Cholera killed more than 3,000 people in 2026, WHO says

· Health · Switzerland

Cholera has killed more than 3,000 people in 2026, the World Health Organization said, warning that the current El Nino weather pattern could worsen outbreaks. The WHO's habitat alert comes as extreme weather disrupts water and sanitation systems in vulnerable regions. El Nino, a periodic warming of the Pacific that shifts global weather patterns, can bring floods and droughts that contaminate water supplies and displace populations. Health agencies have reported a resurgence of cholera in recent years, driven by conflict, displacement and weak infrastructure.

Why it matters：Cholera outbreaks track war, displacement and extreme weather, and El Nino could spread them further across vulnerable regions.

Key points

  • Cholera killed more than 3,000 people in 2026.
  • The WHO warned El Nino could worsen outbreaks.
  • El Nino can cause floods and droughts that contaminate water.

Sources (original reporting)

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