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Angola’s Ministry of Health (MINSA) has reported 119 cholera cases, including 12 deaths, amid a growing outbreak that has raised concerns about the country’s public health infrastructure. The Ministry confirmed the first case on January 7, 2025, prompting an official declaration of the outbreak.
The cholera outbreak is concentrated in Cacuaco Municipality, located in Luanda province, which has emerged as the epicenter. Cacuaco, a densely populated suburban area, has recorded 20 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the region to 119. Of the 119 reported cases, 53% are female, and 47% are male. Eleven of the twelve deaths have occurred in Cacuaco.
The Ministry of Health has mobilized resources and activated an emergency response plan to address the crisis. Key actions taken include strengthening epidemiological surveillance, enhancing laboratory capabilities, improving public health communication, and increasing access to safe drinking water. Additionally, calcium hypochlorite is being distributed to disinfect water sources, and potable water tanks are being replenished and disinfected to prevent further contamination.
“Everything we are doing is to fight this disease,” stated Minister of Health Silvia Lutucuta during a press briefing on Saturday. She emphasized the importance of improved water and sanitation infrastructure in tackling the outbreak, citing poor sanitation and a lack of potable water systems in high-risk areas as significant challenges.
The Ministry of Health defined a cholera case as a patient suffering from severe dehydration or death due to acute watery diarrhea, with or without vomiting, in individuals over the age of two in areas where cholera is known to be present. A confirmed case is one where the cholera vibrio has been isolated in stool samples.
The outbreak’s timeline indicates that symptoms were first observed in a patient on December 31, 2024, according to a report from Xinhua news agency. Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is primarily transmitted through consumption of contaminated food or water. It can cause severe diarrhea, dehydration, and, in extreme cases, death if left untreated.
In response to the emergency, Angola’s Multisectoral Commission to combat cholera met at the General Hospital in Cacuaco on Saturday to coordinate efforts. Adao Silva, Director-General of the Public Water Company, confirmed that 17 community water tanks, which were previously used for drinking, had been cleaned and analyzed to prevent further contamination. These tanks have been temporarily decommissioned, with efforts now focused on securing safer water supplies for residents.
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to monitor the situation, emphasizing that access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene is critical to preventing cholera and other waterborne diseases.
As Angola battles the cholera outbreak, ongoing efforts are being made to curb its spread and save lives, with a comprehensive response plan focused on addressing both the immediate and long-term challenges posed by the disease.
