The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak with more than 100,000 cases and 2,500 deaths since July 2024. More than 33.5 million people are at risk across all 18 states. The UK Government continues to work with a range of international partners to deliver lifesaving emergency health interventions, including cholera vaccines, treatment, and prevention. Additionally, through a 'match funding' arrangement we have recently partnered with the State of Kuwait to deliver an additional £3.75 million to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), supplementing UK resources already allocated to combat the outbreak. We continue to urge the warring parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak with more than 100,000 cases and 2,500 deaths since July 2024. More than 33.5 million people are at risk across all 18 states. The UK Government is working with a range of international partners delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions, including cholera vaccines, treatment, and prevention. In addition, through a 'match funding' arrangement we have recently partnered with the State of Kuwait to deliver an additional £3.75 million to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), supplementing UK resources already allocated to combat the outbreak. We continue to urge the warring parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) holds data on cholera cases diagnosed in the United Kingdom by the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit.

The number of people with cholera in the UK is published as part of the UKHSA’s Travel-associated infection report. The latest report, published in August 2025, and previous reports, can be found at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/travel-associated-infections

There have been 132 diagnosed cases of cholera in the UK between 2015 and June 2025. All cases have been linked with travel outside the UK. The following table shows the number of confirmed cases of cholera per year:

Note: data is available to 30 June 2025.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak with more than 83,000 cases and 2,100 deaths since July 2024. More than 33.5 million people are at risk. Humanitarian agencies, against a backdrop of continued violence and access impediments, are working to respond to the current outbreak alongside other priorities. In response the UK is supporting the United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) and other agencies who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions, including cholera vaccines, treatment, and prevention. Via an aid match agreement alongside the State of Kuwait we provided an additional $5 million to UNICEF. The UK is also advocating with UN organisations to deliver a sufficiently scaled-up cholera response. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak with more than 83,000 cases and 2,100 deaths since July 2024. More than 33.5 million people are at risk. Humanitarian agencies, against a backdrop of continued violence and access impediments, are working to respond to the current outbreak alongside other priorities. In response the UK is supporting the United Nation's Children Fund (UNICEF) and other agencies who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions, including cholera vaccines, treatment, and prevention. Via an aid match agreement alongside the State of Kuwait we provided an additional $5 million to UNICEF. The UK is also advocating with UN organisations to deliver a sufficiently scaled-up cholera response. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

Cases of Cholera in Sudan are increasing due to the collapse of health systems and water supply and treatment infrastructure exacerbated by the limited reach of humanitarian agencies and the onset of the rainy season. The outbreak in Khartoum is particularly alarming, with 13,000 recorded cases, with a significant spike since late May. UK support to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund is helping to deliver lifesaving emergency health interventions including cholera vaccines and treatment and prevention activities. We are also advocating for the UN's Sudan Humanitarian Fund (SHF), which receives UK support, to step-up its Cholera related work. Key to an effective Cholera response is for the warring parties to urgently facilitate the unhindered delivery of aid and to commit to protecting critical infrastructure.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak. Two-thirds of states in Sudan are experiencing more than three different disease outbreaks, which are exacerbated by the widening climatic shocks. In response, the UK is supporting United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and others who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions including cholera vaccines, treatment, and prevention. Specifically, we are also contributing to an ongoing cholera vaccination campaign in Kosti and Rabak, targeting one million people. UK aid is also addressing related needs across the region given the cross-border risks of Sudan's cholera outbreak. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

The conflict in Sudan and the widespread destruction of sanitation and health services has caused a devastating cholera outbreak. In response, the UK is supporting UNICEF and others who are delivering lifesaving emergency health interventions including cholera treatment and prevention. We are also contributing to an ongoing cholera vaccination campaign in Kosti and Rabak, targeting one million people. UK aid is also addressing related needs across the region given the cross-border risks of Sudan's cholera outbreak. We continue to urge all parties in Sudan to facilitate humanitarian access so that aid reaches those most in need.

The Sudan conflict has created the worst humanitarian crisis in the world with 24.8 million people in need of assistance. The UK is extremely concerned about the increasing cases of cholera in Sudan with death rates from the outbreak surging up to three times the global average. The UK is responding though our humanitarian programmes in Sudan. The UK has spent £113.5 million this year in response to the conflict in Sudan and the resulting regional refugee crisis. As part of this funding, we support the Sudan Humanitarian Fund which provides flexible, muti-sector support to NGOs, including medical relief for the cholera outbreak.

Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments and direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). We are supporting the WHO's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network and have deployed a senior epidemiologist to bolster the national response.

The UK is providing £670,000 towards the International Federation of the Red Cross emergency appeal, which is operating to support the Government of Zambia Cholera Response Plan. We have also deployed a two-member UK Emergency Medical Team and a three person UK Public Health Rapid Support Team who are providing support to the response. These teams have joined the existing UK Health Security Agency team in Zambia, which has developed a close partnership with Zambian health authorities since 2019, helping to build technical capability and strengthening public health systems.

The UK was a key partner during Malawi's worst ever cholera outbreak in 2022/23, disbursing emergency funds, deploying an Emergency Medical Team and leveraging additional funding from other donors in support of the Government of Malawi's response. Although numbers are much reduced this cholera season, The BHC Lilongwe team continues to monitor the data and work with Ministry of Health and development partners to support the response and mitigate the risk of another outbreak. This includes recent new funding for resilience and preparedness activities in affected districts through our bilateral health programme, as well as pulling in support from a Centrally Managed health security programme (TDDAP2) to build the capacity of Malawi's health system and institutions to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies such as cholera.

Due to the ongoing conflict, Sudan continues to grapple with mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition. The health system has been overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and the scarcity of medical supplies, equipment, health workers and operational funds. The World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting Sudan with cholera treatments (including antibiotics, oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids and rapid diagnostic tests), in addition to providing direct support to cholera isolation centres. The UK is funding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and health activities in Sudan via the Sudan Humanitarian Fund, UNICEF, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). With support from WHO and health partners, the Ministry of Health is coordinating efforts (in areas of the country that are still accessible) to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak. We are supporting the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (WHO), and will deploy a Senior Epidemiologist to assist with coordination efforts to bolster the national response. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The UK does not directly support cholera programmes in Kenya. The UK funds the Global Fund, Global Financing Facility (GFF), Gavi and UNITAID to help strengthen health systems. WHO and UNICEF support the Ministry of Health to counter cholera. An oral vaccination campaign commenced in February 2023 and to date has vaccinated 2.3 million Kenyans against cholera.

The UK is monitoring water supply issues in north east Syria, which are limiting 5 million people's access to water. We have raised the humanitarian issue of water availability with all parties in the region, including Turkey, and we are working with our partners to prioritise our funds for the most acute needs.

The UK also continues to monitor health across Syria closely, and responded specifically to the Cholera outbreak with a £2 million contribution to UNICEF's response announced in November 2022 to help prevent the spread of cholera, including in north east Syria.

The UK has allocated £500,000 towards the Government of Malawi's response. This will contribute to the establishment of community oral rehydration points, provision of urgent cholera supplies, strengthening measures to prevent spread of cholera, rapid water testing, and repair and treatment of boreholes. In addition, the UK has also provided technical support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to deploy a water and sanitation expert to Malawi, and the UK Emergency Medical Team arrives next week to support best practice patient care. Further UK funding is being disbursed through the humanitarian Start Fund to support cholera work in refugee camps.

At present, Ghana has no cholera cases. Its disease surveillance system remains active, and the UK is supporting its strengthening and expansion. Since 2020, the UK has funded training for over 10,500 health workers in Ghana. This is on health surveillance and outbreak response, including within cholera prone regions of Ghana. The UK continues to support Ghana's Ministry of Health to build a resilient health system able to respond promptly and effectively to outbreaks, through a Department of Health and Social Care programme to strengthen workforce capacity.

We note reports of a recent outbreak of cholera in Burundi and urge the Government of Burundi to continue taking preventative measures to limit further risks to the population. FCDO officials have engaged with international partners to discuss how we can limit the outbreak of cholera worldwide.

The UK is monitoring the worsening cholera outbreak in Malawi and has allocated £500,000 towards the Government of Malawi's response. This will contribute to the establishment of community oral rehydration points, provision of urgent cholera supplies, strengthening measures to prevent spread of cholera, rapid water testing, and repair and treatment of boreholes. In addition, the UK has funded the deployment of technical support and provided funding to support the response in refugee camps. We have also provided technical support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) through the Standby Partnership network by deploying a water sanitation expert in Lilongwe this month to help tackle the cholera outbreak in Malawi. Further UK funding is also being disbursed through the humanitarian Start Fund to support cholera work in refugee camps through the non-governmental organisation Welthungerhilfe. The UK will continue to work together with all organisations to strengthen coordination and support partners using both human and financial resources to tackle the cholera outbreak.

The UK is monitoring the worsening cholera outbreak in Malawi and has allocated £500,000 towards the Government of Malawi's response. This will contribute to the establishment of community oral rehydration points, provision of urgent cholera supplies, strengthening measures to prevent spread of cholera, rapid water testing, and repair and treatment of boreholes. In addition, the UK has funded the deployment of technical support and provided funding to support the response in refugee camps. Schools have closed for at least two weeks in Blantyre and Lilongwe districts and this will negatively impact education. As part of COVID, the Global Partnership for Education (to which the UK is the main donor) had funded boreholes for handwashing in schools and the UK is working with partners on the steps needed to re-open schools while keeping children safe.