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WHO Warns Cholera Has Killed 1,800 in Democratic Republic of the Congo
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1,800 cholera deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since January. About 60,000 cholera cases reported, marking the worst outbreak in decades.
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Cholera death toll climbs
The World Health Organization warned that cholera has claimed 1,800 lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the start of the year, alongside about 60,000 cases recorded. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the outbreak as the worst cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in decades. Tedros said the majority of cases are concentrated in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in the east of the country.
Tedros also pointed to cases in areas within the Congo River basin, which increases the risk of the outbreak reaching the capital, Kinshasa. The WHO warned that the rainy season could accelerate the spread of the waterborne disease and threaten reaching Kinshasa.
Ebola and conflict strain
The World Health Organization said the Democratic Republic of the Congo is simultaneously experiencing the worst Ebola outbreak in its history, after recording 60,000 Ebola cases in the country. The WHO said the case fatality rate is about 3%, describing it as a relatively high rate for cholera. The WHO warned that disease response efforts are hampered because outbreaks are concentrated in remote, hard-to-reach areas that are often affected by conflicts.
The WHO said ongoing insecurity hinders epidemiological surveillance, patient access to healthcare, delivery of medicines, and the implementation of infection-control measures. The WHO stressed that the convergence of an acute cholera outbreak, an Ebola epidemic, and ongoing conflict poses a major health and humanitarian relief challenge for the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Vaccination and pandemic rules
The World Health Organization warned that it is necessary to intensify the health response as cholera spreads while the Ebola outbreak continues. Tedros stressed the importance of intensifying the health response, including vaccination campaigns against Ebola, especially in the eastern areas affected by conflicts. The WHO said the rainy season could exacerbate the spread of cholera, especially in areas with limited sanitation services and water resources.
Tedros emphasized that vaccination efforts are crucial to reducing the risk of disease spread within communities. Tedros also confirmed on November 2 that it is necessary to complete the international agreement on pandemics and strengthen cooperation among states to confront cross-border health threats.