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Epidemiology of Cholera Epidemic in Southern Africa Region
Author(s)
Nyasulu, Peter Suwirakwenda
Tamuzi, Jacques
Gelegbe, Gideon Kofi
Mphande, Fingani Annie
Date Issued
January 1, 2025
Type
Book Chapter
Abstract
Persistent issues like urbanization, rapid population expansion, and natural disasters caused by climate change provide a significant risk of cholera epidemics in low- and middle-income countries. The cholera pandemic that impacted numerous nations in Southern Africa from 2022 to 2023 lasted a long time and continues to harm the region, putting further burden on people and healthcare systems. Despite the lack of agreement on future climate change in Southern Africa, there appears to be agreement on increased variability in climate extremes, including regionally diverse drought, and precipitation changes. This must be prioritized in future drought and precipitation planning in Southern Africa to ensure that activities remain effective in the face of climate change-inducing cholera epidemics. Cholera prediction models will benefit from including nutrient influx, phytoplankton and zooplankton blooms, human cholera vulnerability in Southern Africa, and other climate variables to detect outbreaks early. It necessitates a comprehensive and whole-of-society strategy at the local, national, and regional levels to do additional research on cholera pandemic gaps and potential scenarios related with climate change that could induce cholera epidemics in Southern Africa.
Citation
Evaluating Outbreak Potential of Infections in Tropical Climates Preventing the Pandemics of the Future, 71-85, 2025