Attachments
Highlights
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Since the declaration of the cholera epidemic on 2 February 2024, and as of 28 July, Comoros has recorded 10,342 suspected cases of cholera and 149 deaths, representing a 1.4% case fatality rate (CFR).
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The month of July 2024 was marked by a sharp decline in national cholera transmission, and there were no cases reported during the last week of this month.
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Children and adolescents make up approximately 40% of reported cases.
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Through a partnership between UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the Comorian Red Crescent, 18 Case Area Targeted Interventions (CATI) teams continued to respond across the three islands to prevent further cholera transmission. The teams have reached over 50,000 households with house decontamination and stop cholera kits, and over 233,000 individuals via door-to-door or small group interactions.
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Risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) efforts have reached 580,000 people with key engagement messages. Communication efforts have supported the Ministry of Health’s oral cholera vaccine (OCV) vaccination campaign, with 58% of the national population vaccinated (79% in Anjouan) as of 28 July.
Situation in Numbers
40% Of total cholera cases are children and adolescents
10,342 Cholera suspected cases
149 Deaths from cholera
0 Islands with active cholera cases (nationwide) (Government Sitrep Number 54, 29 July 2024)
Funding Overview and Partnerships
UNICEF is appealing for US$5.95 million to respond to the cholera epidemic in Comoros per its multi-sectoral response plan covering from February to December 2024. To date, US$3.4 million have been mobilized thanks to UNICEF’s multi-donor thematic funds, National Committees for UNICEF (Germany, France), reprogramming of a development grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and support received from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department (ECHO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and France.
Despite these much-appreciated contributions, UNICEF's cholera response in Comoros has a funding gap of 42%. After six months of disease transmission, the situation has much improved, but it remains fragile. Therefore, additional resources remain essential to maintain a humanitarian response capacity across sectors, including Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), and to implement transitional activities to prevent any resurgence of the epidemic.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The cholera epidemic in the Union of the Comoros was officially declared on 2 February 2024. The last outbreak of the disease in the national territory dates back to 2007.
As of 28 July 2024, according to official data from the Ministry of Health, 10,342 suspected cases and 149 deaths (case fatality rate of 1.4%, including deaths in communities and institutions) have been reported, making cholera the top public health emergency in the country. 58 % of the reported deaths occurred in communities.
Since the end of June, there has been a significant decrease in the incidence of cholera at the national level, which further intensified in July with no reported cases since the last week of the month.
Anjouan is the epicentre of the epidemic and accounted for 9,126 suspected cases (88% of all reported cases in the country) as of 28 July. The districts of Mutsamudu and Domoni have reported the highest number of suspected cases.
Nationally, men and boys account for 54% of all cholera cases. Approximately 40% of cases are children and adolescents, and 25% are children under 15 years of age.
This imported epidemic in the Union of the Comoros had spread to the neighbouring island of Mayotte, where more than 221 confirmed cases and 7 deaths had been reported as of 12 July. Since that date, no new case has been reported, thus indicating the absence of disease transmission in Mayotte.
With the aim of completely eliminating the risk of a new epidemic resurgence, UNICEF remains fully committed to supporting the Government of Comoros through close coordination and collaboration, to maintain the necessary humanitarian response capacity and implement transitional activities.