Namibia declares end of cholera outbreak after months of containment efforts
By TUW
The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS) has officially declared the end of Namibia’s cholera outbreak after the country recorded more than 28 consecutive days without any new confirmed cases.
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao made the announcement on July 9, 2026, confirming that the outbreak has been contained in line with international health regulations and disease control standards.
The outbreak was first detected on November 19, 2025, in the Grootfontein Health District in the Otjozondjupa Region, leading to an official declaration on November 27. It later spread to the Opuwo Health District in the Kunene Region in January 2026.
According to the ministry, the final confirmed case was recorded in Grootfontein on February 18, while Opuwo reported its last case on March 22.
A total of 282 suspected cases were recorded nationwide, with 82 laboratory-confirmed cases. Grootfontein accounted for 52 cases, while Opuwo recorded 30 cases. One death was reported in the Opuwo district during the outbreak.
The ministry attributed the successful containment to a coordinated response involving government institutions, regional authorities, and international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), US CDC, UNICEF, and the Robert Koch Institute.
Despite the outbreak being declared over, health authorities warned that cholera and other waterborne diseases remain a threat and urged the public to continue practising good hygiene, using safe drinking water, disposing of waste properly, and washing hands regularly with soap and clean water.
The ministry also encouraged people to seek medical attention early when experiencing symptoms to prevent possible future outbreaks.
