The forgotten foe returns: cholera's warning to a complacent world demanding urgent action

Cholera, a deadly bacterial infection, affects 1.3-4 million people annually. Reports in early 2025 show a sharp rise in cases, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions, posing a serious global threat. This perspective argues that this reappearance is not just a periodic outbreak, but rather the result of interconnected global crises: climate change, armed conflicts, and a fragile healthcare system. This article analyzes these factors driving the spread of cholera and critically evaluates the roles of the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies. While WHO measures have proven valuable, this article underscores the urgent need for stronger public health systems, early detection, and improved testing capacity to withstand future outbreaks. Enhancing surveillance, supporting vaccine and treatment development, and fostering cross-border cooperation are key to preventing regional spread. A coordinated global response involving governments, international organizations, and Non-Governmental Organizations is essential to curbing the crisis. Priority actions include investing in WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) infrastructure, expanding oral cholera vaccine production, and developing climate-resilient health systems. Cholera remains a preventable disease, but only through collective and adaptive action can its resurgence be halted and global health security safeguarded.