Cholera in Sub-Saharan Africa: Unveiling Neglected Drivers and Pathways to Elimination
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Date
2025
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PLOS
Abstract
Cholera is a virulent infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative, comma-shaped
bacteria Vibrio cholerae, after ingesting contaminated food and/or water. If left
untreated, it can kill within 5 days. Since mid-2021 the world has recorded a notable
increase in the seventh cholera pandemic, with high case fatality rate especially in
Sub-Saharan Africa. Oral cholera vaccines are established but not readily available
on the market, or if they are, they are not pocket friendly for low-resource-income
countries. Hence, with the advent of green factory biotechnology, plant-derived edible
vaccines are such a promising approach to supplement conventional vaccine methods. Human travellers are often the major transmitters as they move from region to
region. Poor sanitation and inadequate clean water supply are services not readily
available in most Sub-Saharan African countries, coupled with insufficient surveillance
services, lack of early detection facilities, and the public not having ample awareness
concerning sanitation and hygiene. This article highlights the epidemiology of cholera
in Africa and expounds on what drives the outbreaks of cholera in this region. The
discussion provides an in-depth analysis of the factors leading to the forsaken cholera
drivers, emphasizing economic factors, culture, and environmental influences, particularly within the Sub-Saharan African communities. It presents a strategic blueprint
approach that includes public health awareness, community participation, government
involvement, and exploring emerging research tools. By merging these proposals into
a unified context, a collective and practical methodology would be established to tackle
the impact of cholera epidemiology that has been sidelined in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Citation
Siamalube B, Ehinmitan E, Runo S, Ngotho M, Onguso J (2025) Cholera in SubSaharan Africa: Unveiling neglected drivers and pathways to elimination. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 19(4): e0013029. https://doi.org/10.1371/ journal.pntd.0013029