Cholera outbreaks reported in Katanga and South Kivu provinces

A total of 106 cases of cholera resulting in 16 deaths have been confirmed since the beginning of October in the town Ankoro, in north-central Katanga province, MSF reported last week. In cooperation with health authorities, the World Health Programme (WHO) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), emergency airlift operations from Lubumbashi have begun in light of difficult road access to Ankoro. A UN source in Lubumbashi cautioned that "with the rapid increase of cholera cases since the start of October, we run the risk of losing many lives if we must rely on ground transportation" to reach Ankoro, located in territory controlled by the Rwandan-backed Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD-Goma) armed opposition movement. The UN source also noted that cooperation among military and civilian authorities and humanitarian agencies has thus far been good. Meanwhile, RTNC radio in Goma reported on Friday that 50 cholera cases were recorded last week in Uvira and Bukavu in South Kivu province. According to South Kivu medical inspector Dr. Norbert Runyambo Nyabuhanga, 38 cases were reported in Uvira and 12 in Bukavu. He said urgent measures were being taken to stop the epidemic, which had not yet resulted in the loss of life. Cholera is an acute illness characterised by watery diarrhea. The toxin released by the bacteria causes increased secretion of water and chloride ions in the intestine, which can produce massive diarrhea. Death can result from the severe dehydration brought on by the diarrhea. Cholera occurs in epidemics when conditions of poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine are present. The infection is acquired by ingesting contaminated food or water.