Somalia is battling concurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diphtheria driven by severe drought and displacement

Somalia is experiencing concurrent cholera, measles, and diphtheria outbreaks driven by climate change, conflict, displacement, malnutrition, inadequate water and sanitation, and fragile health systems. This letter argues that these overlapping epidemics should be recognized as a syndemic rather than independent outbreaks because they share common structural determinants that amplify transmission and mortality. We advocate for integrated surveillance, combined vaccination strategies, strengthened laboratory capacity, nutrition support, climate-informed early warning systems, resilient primary healthcare, and sustained financing to improve outbreak preparedness and response in Somalia and similar fragile settings.

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Publication Details

Journal
Archives of Public Health
Published
2026-09-28
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-026-02078-9
Primary Topic
Vibrio bacteria research studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Somalia is battling concurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diphtheria driven by severe drought and displacement

Ilyas Abdullahi Khalif, Maryan Ali Aadan, Ayuub Ahmed Osman
Archives of Public Health
Vibrio bacteria research studies
article

Somalia is battling concurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diphtheria driven by severe drought and displacement

Ilyas Abdullahi Khalif, Maryan Ali Aadan, Ayuub Ahmed Osman
article en

Abstract

Somalia is experiencing concurrent cholera, measles, and diphtheria outbreaks driven by climate change, conflict, displacement, malnutrition, inadequate water and sanitation, and fragile health systems. This letter argues that these overlapping epidemics should be recognized as a syndemic rather than independent outbreaks because they share common structural determinants that amplify transmission and mortality. We advocate for integrated surveillance, combined vaccination strategies, strengthened laboratory capacity, nutrition support, climate-informed early warning systems, resilient primary healthcare, and sustained financing to improve outbreak preparedness and response in Somalia and similar fragile settings.

Archives of Public HealthVol. 84(1)
Somali National University (SO), Benaadir Research, Consultancy and Evaluation Center (Somalia) (SO)
Climate action
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Vibrio bacteria research studies
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Somalia is battling concurrent outbreaks of cholera, measles, and diphtheria driven by severe drought and displacement — Ilyas Abdullahi Khalif, Maryan Ali Aadan, et al. · Archives of Public Health (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS