Cholera still kills thousands each year - in places without clean water, it’s far from history
Cholera remains a significant global health threat, particularly in regions suffering from conflict and poor water infrastructure, such as Sudan. Despite being largely eradicated in wealthy nations, global cases have surged by 175% over the last five years.
Why it matters
The resurgence of cholera highlights the devastating impact of war on public health infrastructure and the ongoing global inequality in access to clean water.
Cholera is common in parts of the world where clean water sources are unreliable. Sudan has suffered multiple outbreaks since the onset of a civil war in 2023. AFP via Getty Images Cholera still kills thousands each year – in places without clean water, it’s far from history Published: July 29, 2026 8:14am EDT https://theconversation.com/cholera-still-kills-thousands-each-year-in-places-without-clean-water-its-far-from-history-288170 https://theconversation.com/cholera-still-kills-thousands-each-year-in-places-without-clean-water-its-far-from-history-288170 Link copied Share article Share article
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Many Americans have heard about cholera only from “ The Oregon Trail ,” the retro computer game in which players try to get their 1830s pioneers to the Oregon Territory. If your wagon train comes down with this highly contagious bacterial infection, the pioneers could die from diarrhea and dehydration before they get out of Nebraska.
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