They brought cholera from a pilgrimage site in Ethiopia, drank holy water from a well

A cholera epidemic broke out in Ethiopia because a place called Bermel Giorgis was mistakenly believed to have holy water with healing properties. Crowds of pilgrims drank the healing, but infectious, drinking water.

The country faces serious challenges in securing safe and clean water, but many Ethiopians and international pilgrims continue to drink holy water from pilgrimage sites like Bermel Giorgis because of its supposed healing properties.