Immediate action is needed to prevent a “multi-year upsurge in cholera cases worldwide”, according to the organization that manages the world’s stockpile of cholera vaccine.

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision has warned that millions of people are at risk from the disease due to a lack of clean water, soap and toilets, and a shortage of the vaccine used to prevent the disease.

Cases of cholera – an acute disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water – have been rising globally since 2021. In 2022, 473,000 cases were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) – more than double the number reported the previous year. Preliminary data for 2023 shows a further surge, with over 700,000 cases reported.

Cholera is preventable and treatable, and according to the WHO, cases have been declining in previous years. It recommends actions including investing in access to safe water and sanitation, testing and quickly detecting outbreaks, and fast-tracking the production of vaccine doses to better prevent cases