At least 100 people have died of cholera in parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since January, say medical sources.
South Kivu Province is the worst affected, with at least 75 people dead and 6,392 infected, said Eugene Kabambi, who is in charge of communications at the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in DRC.
The South Kivu governor, Louis Leonce Muderwa, said the 10 worst-affected health zones in the province included Fizi in the region of Baraka, Nundu, Uvira, Kadutu, Ibanda, Bunyakiri, Katana, Minova, Nyantende and Kabare zones. Two deaths have been reported in Kadutu and one each in Ibanda and Katana.
Muderwa declared a cholera epidemic there on 14 September.
In neighbouring North Kivu Province, 48 deaths had been recorded and 4,609 people infected by 13 September, according to a WHO report.
Five health zones have recorded cases, including the main town of Goma, Karisimbi, Masisi, Mutwanga and Rutshuru areas. Other eastern regions have also recorded cases, with Katanga listing 199 new cases and two deaths.
The North Kivu provincial medical inspector, Dominique Bahago, blamed the cholera outbreaks on poor hygiene. "The majority of the population’s supply of cooking and drinking water is from Lake Kivu where all kinds of waste is dumped; cholera is endemic in that zone," said Bahago.
Cramped living conditions in displaced persons camps, as well as the inconsistent use of latrines, had exacerbated contamination, he said.
An estimated two million people are displaced in eastern DRC, some of them repeatedly since the start of conflict there in 1996.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are helping to distribute water to affected locations in North Kivu, chlorinating water, disinfecting premises and conducting hygiene awareness, among other activities, according to a 25 September press release. The cholera treatment centre in Virunga was also reopened on 14 September to deal with the outbreak.
"As the rainy season [arrives] in this cholera endemic zone, it is very important to take measures that will allow for the spread of this epidemic to be contained," said Catherine Savoy, ICRC health coordinator.
More than 10,000 cases have been recorded in the Kivus since the beginning of the year, according to Kabambi of WHO.
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South Kivu Province is the worst affected, with at least 75 people dead and 6,392 infected, said Eugene Kabambi, who is in charge of communications at the UN World Health Organization (WHO) in DRC.
The South Kivu governor, Louis Leonce Muderwa, said the 10 worst-affected health zones in the province included Fizi in the region of Baraka, Nundu, Uvira, Kadutu, Ibanda, Bunyakiri, Katana, Minova, Nyantende and Kabare zones. Two deaths have been reported in Kadutu and one each in Ibanda and Katana.
Muderwa declared a cholera epidemic there on 14 September.
In neighbouring North Kivu Province, 48 deaths had been recorded and 4,609 people infected by 13 September, according to a WHO report.
Five health zones have recorded cases, including the main town of Goma, Karisimbi, Masisi, Mutwanga and Rutshuru areas. Other eastern regions have also recorded cases, with Katanga listing 199 new cases and two deaths.
The North Kivu provincial medical inspector, Dominique Bahago, blamed the cholera outbreaks on poor hygiene. "The majority of the population’s supply of cooking and drinking water is from Lake Kivu where all kinds of waste is dumped; cholera is endemic in that zone," said Bahago.
Cramped living conditions in displaced persons camps, as well as the inconsistent use of latrines, had exacerbated contamination, he said.
An estimated two million people are displaced in eastern DRC, some of them repeatedly since the start of conflict there in 1996.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and partners are helping to distribute water to affected locations in North Kivu, chlorinating water, disinfecting premises and conducting hygiene awareness, among other activities, according to a 25 September press release. The cholera treatment centre in Virunga was also reopened on 14 September to deal with the outbreak.
"As the rainy season [arrives] in this cholera endemic zone, it is very important to take measures that will allow for the spread of this epidemic to be contained," said Catherine Savoy, ICRC health coordinator.
More than 10,000 cases have been recorded in the Kivus since the beginning of the year, according to Kabambi of WHO.
ei/aw/mw
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