We are witnessing a preventable tragedy unfold across multiple continents. Cholera, a disease that should be relegated to history books, is surging to levels not seen in over a decade. This crisis is not inevitable, but rather the direct result of our collective failure to invest in proven prevention measures.
We're currently experiencing the seventh cholera pandemic in 200 years. As of July 2025, over 355,800 cholera cases and 4,000 deaths have been reported globally this year —and we're barely past the halfway point of 2025.
These official figures represent just the tip of the iceberg: While reporting is improving, it remains insufficient, and many countries are still reluctant to acknowledge cholera outbreaks because they can be seen as a mark of governmental failure. Some countries refer to cholera as “acute watery diarrhea” to avoid the stigma associated with a disease associated with poor sanitation. But you can't solve a problem you won't name.
About the author
Nicolas Villeminot
Nicolas Villeminot leads water, sanitation, and hygiene, or WASH, initiatives for Action Against Hunger-USA. With 20 years of global humanitarian experience in over 35 countries, he bridges operational and evidence gaps across crisis response, recovery, and development interventions, and promotes integrated solutions spanning WASH, health, nutrition, economic empowerment, and sustainability for equitable development and climate resilience.
