Cholera: A Disease That Can be Eradicated, Yet Remains a Persistent Threat
A devastating and preventable disease has taken hold in 32 countries, claiming over 6,800 lives so far this year. Cholera, an ancient foe that was last seen in Britain in 1866 and the United States in 1911, continues to spread rapidly, fueled by conflict, poverty, and inequality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are working tirelessly to combat outbreaks through the Global Task Force on Cholera Control. A consortium of over 50 organizations, including WHO, has responded to these outbreaks with a partnership established in 1992, ensuring access to essential supplies, detection, prevention, and treatment services.
However, despite concerted efforts, cholera persists due to inadequate action from leaders. The disease is the definitive enemy of deprivation, thriving in communities afflicted by conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters. Safe drinking water and sanitation are the only defenses against cholera, yet many countries lack these basic amenities.
Effective vaccines offer a lifeline against cholera, but vaccine development has been hindered due to limited market opportunities. The current manufacturer, EUBiologics from South Korea, produces vaccines at scale, but demand far exceeds supply. A global cholera vaccine stockpile, established in 2013, has dispensed over 255 million doses to 34 countries since its inception.
The ICG (International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision) has suspended the standard vaccination regimen in favor of a single dose to stretch supplies further. However, this is only a temporary solution as demand shows no signs of abating. New partnerships, such as Zambia and China's Jijia Medical Technology Company, aim to establish cholera vaccine-production facilities, but rigorous quality assurance and clinical trials are essential before locally manufactured doses can be approved.
The root cause of the cholera crisis lies not in a lack of scientific solutions, but rather in poverty, inequality, conflict, and displacement. Stopping this disease is fundamentally a political challenge. The WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes that "cholera persists because poverty, inequality, conflict and displacement persist."
As the number of cholera cases continues to rise, it is clear that a collective effort is required to address this issue. Governments must prioritize investments in safe drinking water and sanitation, while vaccine manufacturers must increase production to meet growing demand. Ultimately, eradicating cholera will require sustained commitment from governments, international partners, and civil society.
A devastating and preventable disease has taken hold in 32 countries, claiming over 6,800 lives so far this year. Cholera, an ancient foe that was last seen in Britain in 1866 and the United States in 1911, continues to spread rapidly, fueled by conflict, poverty, and inequality.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners are working tirelessly to combat outbreaks through the Global Task Force on Cholera Control. A consortium of over 50 organizations, including WHO, has responded to these outbreaks with a partnership established in 1992, ensuring access to essential supplies, detection, prevention, and treatment services.
However, despite concerted efforts, cholera persists due to inadequate action from leaders. The disease is the definitive enemy of deprivation, thriving in communities afflicted by conflict, displacement, and climate-related disasters. Safe drinking water and sanitation are the only defenses against cholera, yet many countries lack these basic amenities.
Effective vaccines offer a lifeline against cholera, but vaccine development has been hindered due to limited market opportunities. The current manufacturer, EUBiologics from South Korea, produces vaccines at scale, but demand far exceeds supply. A global cholera vaccine stockpile, established in 2013, has dispensed over 255 million doses to 34 countries since its inception.
The ICG (International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision) has suspended the standard vaccination regimen in favor of a single dose to stretch supplies further. However, this is only a temporary solution as demand shows no signs of abating. New partnerships, such as Zambia and China's Jijia Medical Technology Company, aim to establish cholera vaccine-production facilities, but rigorous quality assurance and clinical trials are essential before locally manufactured doses can be approved.
The root cause of the cholera crisis lies not in a lack of scientific solutions, but rather in poverty, inequality, conflict, and displacement. Stopping this disease is fundamentally a political challenge. The WHO's Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasizes that "cholera persists because poverty, inequality, conflict and displacement persist."
As the number of cholera cases continues to rise, it is clear that a collective effort is required to address this issue. Governments must prioritize investments in safe drinking water and sanitation, while vaccine manufacturers must increase production to meet growing demand. Ultimately, eradicating cholera will require sustained commitment from governments, international partners, and civil society.
. It's just unbelievable that we still live in a world where such preventable diseases exist. I mean, safe drinking water and sanitation are basic human rights, right? 
But it seems like some countries aren't getting the priority they need.
. I mean, we have the technology to make more vaccines, but demand far exceeds supply. It's like we're treating this as a business problem instead of a humanitarian crisis. We need to change our approach and prioritize people's lives over profits.
. Those partnerships between governments, international organizations, and vaccine manufacturers seem promising. And the fact that we're talking about this issue at all is a good start. We need to keep pushing for change and supporting those who are working towards a cholera-free world 
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. I mean, we've been here before in 1866 and 1911, but we can't keep going back to the same mistakes. 50+ organizations working together is a great start, but what's the point if leaders aren't taking action? 
And the current manufacturer is struggling to keep up with demand. I mean, it's not like vaccine development is hard or anything... 
But seriously, we need more partnerships, like Zambia and China's Jijia Medical Technology Company, to get this stuff made locally.
. However, I'm heartened by the establishment of new partnerships between organizations like Zambia and China's Jijia Medical Technology Company, which aim to increase vaccine production capacity.
. We need to prioritize investments in safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as increase access to affordable healthcare and education. By working together, we can create a world where this devastating disease is a relic of the past 
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. And to think that it's basically down to poverty and conflict... it's like, come on! Can't we get our act together? 
. The WHO is doing its best with over 50 organizations helping out. But seriously, we need more investment in safe drinking water and sanitation ASAP 
. We can do better than just a single dose vaccine solution, though... that's just not going to cut it 
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. Like, yeah, I get it... but there needs to be more action taken! 
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. Maybe if we all do our part, we can make a difference 
. The need for quality assurance and rigorous clinical trials must be emphasized to ensure the efficacy of locally manufactured doses. Ultimately, eradicating cholera will require a sustained commitment from governments, international partners, and civil society to address the systemic issues that enable its persistence 
. I mean, 6,800 deaths is crazy! It should be easy to stop if people just had access to clean water and toilets, but nope 
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. All in all, it just feels like a lot of people are being left behind here... time for some serious change 
we all know how to make vaccines but are we really doing enough? the root cause is poverty and inequality and its time we put our money where our mouth is 
governments need to step up and invest in safe drinking water and sanitation ASAP 
. Cholera is literally ancient history 
. It's like, wake up, manufacturers! We need more vaccines, and we need them now 
. Eradicating cholera isn't just about science, it's about politics 
, and until we address the root causes of poverty, inequality, conflict, and displacement, we're never going to get rid of this disease 
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. It's like they're trying to sweep this under the rug. And don't even get me started on the vaccine production issues - it's a global issue, but no one seems to be taking ownership of it 
. It's time to take cholera seriously and stop making excuses 
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... like we haven't seen this before. It's all about the lack of funding for basic infrastructure, you know? Safe drinking water and sanitation are just not a priority for these governments 
. Can't they just develop a more efficient way to produce vaccines or something? I mean, 50+ organizations working together is not exactly a new concept 
. Meanwhile, poor communities are stuck with limited resources and no choice but to deal with the consequences 
I feel so bad for all those people who are suffering because of this preventable disease it's not like we haven't had enough vaccines or research done on it already... what's holding us back?