Democratic Republic of Congo most affected country in region by cholera epidemics in last 5 years Rodrigue Forku | 20.04.2021 YAOUNDE, Cameroon The trend of notified cases of cholera in the West and Central Africa declined in 2021, compared to the last four years, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Tuesday. In a report, UNICEF said the case-fatality rate (4.55%) in 2021 remains the highest of the last four years, with a particular focus on Cameroon where the case-fatality rate is 75%. Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. It remains a global threat to public health and is an indicator of inequity and lack of social development. Cholera affects both children and adults and can kill within hours if not treated, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).