By 
Luanda, Angola, 25 January 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Angola’s health authorities, is intensifying efforts on the ground to combat the cholera outbreak that has affected the country since 7 January 2025. With 1,016 reported cases and 43 deaths to date, WHO teams are actively supporting surveillance, case management, testing, and community-level interventions.
Today, WHO and health professionals from the Provincial Health Directorate of Bengo visited 10 water collection points, including nine rivers and one borehole in a residential area. Water samples were collected and sent to the National Institute for Health Research (INIS) for analysis to identify sources of contamination and guide mitigation strategies.
In addition to these efforts, WHO teams worked earlier in the week in affected municipalities in Icolo and Bengo Province. Key activities included:
- Visiting high-risk areas such as Mercado do 30, Lagoa do Bairro dos Quiabos, and Chietu neighborhood, which have reported multiple suspected cases.
- Assisting INIS teams in collecting samples of stagnant water and solid waste in critical areas like Mercado do 30, where accumulated waste poses significant health risks.
- Providing calcium hypochlorite solutions for water treatment and preparing oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for patients.
While WHO’s fieldwork strengthens local response efforts, these actions are part of broader support that includes high-level collaboration with the Angolan government to develop the National Cholera Response Plan and assist in coordinating multi-sectoral efforts through the Interministerial Commission.
The focus on community-level interventions, such as water sampling and rapid response to suspected cases, highlights WHO’s commitment to complementing high-level advocacy with direct actions on the ground. Through ongoing collaboration, these efforts aim to contain the outbreak and protect vulnerable communities.
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