The world experienced a significant reduction in cholera cases last year, according to new figures.
Successful campaigns in the world’s hotspots led to a 60% reduction, the World Health Organisation said.
WHO said that mass vaccination campaigns had played a key role – but that the world still needed long-term solutions based on clean drinking water and good sanitation.
Its annual report on cholera said there had been reductions in countries such as Haiti, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which suffered from endemic cholera.
Last year 11 countries received 18 million doses of oral cholera vaccine.
WHO said other countries, such as Zambia, Somalia, Bangladesh and Nigeria, are making "remarkable gains" in cholera control and prevention.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “The decrease we are seeing in several major cholera-endemic countries demonstrates the increased engagement of countries in global efforts to slow and prevent cholera outbreaks and shows the vital role of mass cholera vaccination campaigns.
“We continue to emphasise, however, that the long-term solution for ending cholera lies in increasing access to clean drinking water and providing adequate sanitation and hygiene.”
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