Threats and outbreaks of cholera in Africa amidst COVID-19 pandemic: a double burden on Africa’s health systems

• Published in: Tropical Medicine and Health
• Main Authors: Olivier Uwishema, Melody Okereke, Helen Onyeaka, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Deocles Donatus, Zebadiah Martin, Lawal Abdulwahab Oluwatomisin, Melissa Mhanna, Adesipe Olaoluwa Olumide, Jeffrey Sun, Irem Adanur
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2021
• Subjects: Cholera; COVID-19; Africa; Health system; Double burden; Pandemic; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41182-021-00376-2; https://doaj.org/article/aa5abc5529b04cc08092c98d825a4901

Abstract Every year, about 4 million cases and 143,000 deaths due to cholera are recorded globally, of which 54% were from Africa, reported in 2016. The outbreak and spread of cholera have risen exponentially particularly in Africa. Coupled with the recent emergence of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) in Africa, the local health systems are facing a double burden of these infectious diseases due to their cumulative impact. In this paper, we evaluate the dual impact of cholera and COVID-19 in Africa and suggest plausible interventions that can be put in place to cushion its impact.