TEHRAN – In the first nine months of the current Iranian year, which started in March 2025, five cholera cases have been identified in the country, according to the health ministry.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It can be fatal within hours if not treated. Quick access to treatment is crucial. 

From the beginning of the spring till the end of the fall, 314,963 cases with acute watery diarrhoea were tested for cholera, indicating a 15 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Five (two women and three men) out of suspected cases were confirmed to have cholera; three of them were travellers infected out of the country, including two cases in Babol city, and one in Tabriz city.

The local cases included one in Golestan province and another in Khuzestan province.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in December 2025, a total of 17,327 new cases of cholera were reported from 16 countries across three WHO regions, showing a 25 percent decrease from the previous month. 

The Eastern Mediterranean Region reported 9198 new cholera cases across five countries, marking a 35 percent decrease compared with November. The highest number of cases was reported from Afghanistan (6601), Yemen (1521), and Pakistan (704). Additionally, there were five reported deaths, a 62 percent decrease compared with the previous month. Those deaths were reported from Afghanistan (3) and Yemen (2).

Researchers estimate that there are 1.3 to 4.0 million cases and 21,000 to 143,000 deaths from cholera worldwide each year.

Most people with cholera have no or mild symptoms and can be treated with oral rehydration solution. Severe cases need intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution, and antibiotics. The population’s access to safe water, basic sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is essential to prevent cholera. The oral cholera vaccine (OCV) can help prevent and control cholera.

MT/MG