News Center – Rising Epidemics Across AfricaMany African countries are witnessing increasing epidemic outbreaks due to a lack of safe water and deteriorating health infrastructure, worsening local communities’ suffering and exposing fragile health systems. International warnings stress severe humanitarian consequences if urgent measures are not taken.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported on Thursday, 13 November, that the worsening epidemics are linked to fragile water systems and ongoing conflicts. Africa is currently experiencing its worst cholera wave in nearly 25 years.

According to the CDC, around 300,000 confirmed and suspected cases have been recorded, along with over 7,000 deaths, marking a more than 30% increase compared to last year.

In recent weeks, infection rates have surged in Angola and Burundi due to limited access to safe drinking water. The situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo has improved, though concerns remain high in conflict zones, where crowded camps with poor sanitation facilitate disease spread.

Separately, Ethiopia reported eight suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever, awaiting test results, while rapid response teams were deployed to contain the situation. Monkeypox outbreaks have begun to decline in some severely affected areas but remain concerning in countries such as Kenya, Guinea, Liberia, and Ghana.