International Group: Cholera Vaccine Gap and Sudan Among Most Affected Countries by Disease Spread

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The International Coordination Group (ICG) has stated that Sudan is one of eight countries most vulnerable to the spread of cholera, which is witnessing an unprecedented surge worldwide. It called for urgent life-saving measures to be expedited, treating cholera akin to how the COVID-19 virus has been handled.

The vaccine provider emphasized that millions are at risk of cholera infection due to a lack of clean water, soap, and toilets, and the severe gap in the number of vaccine doses available. Currently, the most affected countries include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The ICG is the entity managing the global stockpile of cholera vaccines, consisting of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Médecins Sans Frontières, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection spread through contaminated food and water containing cholera bacteria. The rising rates of cholera infection are attributed to ongoing gaps in access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. Despite efforts to fill these gaps in some areas, gaps in other places are widening, driven by climate-related factors, economic insecurity, conflict, and population displacement. Safe water and sanitation management are essential prerequisites to halt the transmission of cholera.

Currently, there is only one manufacturing company, EuBiologics, producing the vaccine, and it is not expected that new companies will enter the market before 2025.

The group urged vaccine manufacturers, governments, donors, and partners to prioritize an urgent increase in vaccine production and invest in all necessary efforts to prevent and combat cholera.