Africa CDC Reports Daily Cholera Cases Decline in Amhara, Attributes Progress to Joint Response

17 June 2025
Addis Standard (Addis Ababa)

Addis Abeba- Daily cholera cases in the Amhara Region have declined in recent weeks, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), which attributed the development to a "coordinated response" implemented jointly with the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) and the Amhara Public Health Institute (APHI).

Africa CDC said the deployment of its technical experts to Amhara in late April 2025 contributed to several "critical response pillars," including surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), and operational capacity building for the region's Incident Management System (IMS).

"The major outcome," said Dr. Aniekeme Aniefiok Uwah, Africa CDC's Senior Country Representative to Ethiopia, "was a significant reduction in the daily number of cholera cases reported." He said the improvement followed "more effective coordination of the response" and "capacity building of IMS members at various levels," including through a five-day training workshop.

Africa CDC reported that the outbreak in Amhara, which began in January 2025, has resulted in over 2,281 confirmed cases and 15 deaths. The agency said the outbreak has been "exacerbated by the influx of pilgrims and fragile water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure at these sacred sites," including Andassa Holy Water, which it described as "one of the most active religious sites in the region."

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Located about 20 kilometres from Bahir Dar, the Andassa Saint George Monastery receives "an estimated 20,280 visitors annually," many of whom seek religious and physical healing, according to Africa CDC. The agency said these gatherings posed "heightened public health risks," prompting it to conduct risk assessments and deliver "technical support on IPC, RCCE, and WASH" in consultation with local religious leaders, community members, and health officials.

In early April, the Amhara Public Health Institute called for the imposition of a "temporary restriction" on holy water pilgrimages to help contain the spread of the cholera outbreak. "In the Amhara Region, the cholera outbreak that began in July 2023 lasted for five months but was successfully controlled through concerted efforts," said Belay Bezabih, Director General of the Institute. "However, the disease has resurfaced in the region since January 2025."

According to Belay, the outbreak initially emerged at the Bermil St. George Holy Water site in Quara district, West Gondar Zone, before spreading to other areas. "It then spread to Andassa, Jawi Fil Wuha, and Bahir Dar city," he said. As of 6 March 2025, the region had reported 1,446 cases. "The failure of some holy water sites to implement adequate sanitation measures, given the number of people they serve, has contributed to the spread of the disease," he added.

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