Pakistan floods spark cholera fears amid other rising health risks

Health experts have warned of potential health risks, including a cholera outbreak, as floods continue to ravage Pakistan, if no immediate preventive measures are taken.

More than 6 million people have been impacted by a heavier-than-usual monsoon, followed by floods and landslides, according to the UN.

According to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, over 1, 000 people have died, more than 12 500 of their homes have been damaged, and 6, 500 of their livestock have been lost in addition to the country’s extensive crop destruction.

Health officials have also warned that affected areas will continue to be highly susceptible to waterborne diseases, including cholera, in addition to the displacement of more than 2 million people.

A contaminated food and water can give rise to cholera, a bacterial infection. It can lead to severe nausea, diarrhea, and muscle cramps. Even though simple oral rehydration or antibiotics can save lives, it can kill within hours without treatment.

According to infectious disease expert Dr. Shobha Luxmi, unhygienic conditions at these locations can also significantly increase the risk of infections because of the increase in displacement camps.

According to Luxmi, “relief efforts must prioritize access to clean water, hygiene, and nutritional support.”

The British Red Cross warned that “people who reside in shelters, public buildings, or emergency camps on higher ground don’t have access to clean toilets.”

The group claimed that there are also no handwashing facilities. This makes it clear that diseases like cholera and dysentery can spread quickly in overcrowded settings, the statement continued.

One of the many factors that contributes to Pakistan’s floods is regarded as climate change.

Although it accounts for less than 1% of global emissions, it ranks among the top ten most vulnerable countries. According to data from 2022, Pakistan ranked first among the countries on the list of the most affected according to the Climate Rate Index report from 2025.

In 2022, extensive flooding that followed record heatwaves and heavy rains buried a third of the nation, causing 33 million injuries, including more than 1,700, and costing both $ 14. 8 billion in damages and $ 15.2 billion in economic losses.

More than 600 people died as a result of a heatwave and thousands of more floods were affected by the heatwave last year.

The over 13 000 plus glaciers in Pakistan are being forced to melt due to the country’s rising temperatures, which raises the risk of flooding, property loss, damage to infrastructure, loss of life, and water shortage.

In a report released earlier this year, Amnesty International claimed that Pakistan’s disaster and healthcare systems are failing to serve the needs of older people and children who are most vulnerable to death and disease as a result of extreme weather events relating to climate change.

“The weather is made more intense and unpredictable by rising temperatures.” According to Laura Mills, a researcher with Amnesty International’s crisis response program, Pakistan’s older and young people are at risk of dying from overexposure to extreme heat or floods, which are both directly linked to the climate crisis.

Even in times of crisis, Pakistan’s healthcare system is woefully underfunded and stretched. The system is failing to provide adequate care to those in need because of the climate emergency, which adds to the already-unsupportable strain.