Attachments
Introduction
Cholera remains a major threat to public health in some of the poorest countries around the world. Climate change is increasing the complexity of seasonal cholera patterns as well as the vulnerability of areas where the resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and health systems is already low. In 2023, cholera was reported in 45 countries, with the number of deaths and cases increasing from the previous year by 71% and 13% respectively.1 With the global resurgence and geographical expansion of cholera in recent years, there urgently needs to be more political leadership, capacity and financing for long-term cholera prevention through WASH. New research by WaterAid on the global political economy of cholera identifies opportunities and barriers to action and investment in WASH for long-term prevention of the disease. This brief presents a summary of these findings, identifying priority areas for action and practical steps to move us closer to this goal.