Time to invest in cholera
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Stout, Rebecca
Feasey, Nicholas
Péchayre, Marion
Thomson, Nicholas
Chilima, Benson
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The recent surge in cholera cases globally calls for urgent evaluation of current approaches to prevention and control of the disease. Malawi was one of the worst affected countries in 2022-23 with the highest number of deaths due to cholera in the world. In this personal view, we look at Malawi as a case example to illustrate how current approaches lack sufficient investment. We review the history of cholera in Malawi and compare previous outbreaks to the 2022/23 outbreak. We discuss contributing factors to the outbreak including a lack of investment in water, sanitation and hygiene (both historically and currently), human resource constraints, and the market structures which make accessing oral cholera vaccine challenging both in the midst of an ongoing outbreak and as a preventative approach. We call for international action to address the economic and structural challenges underlying cholera persistence and propose solutions to prevent future epidemics and to eliminate cholera as a public health threat.
Date Acceptance
2024-12-17
Citation
EClinicalMedicine
ISSN
2589-5370
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
EClinicalMedicine
Copyright Statement
Subject to copyright. This paper is embargoed until publication. Once published the author’s accepted manuscript will be made available under a CC-BY License in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy).
License URL
Publication Status
Accepted
Rights Embargo Date
10000-01-01