WHO confirms thousands of cholera cases in Democratic Republic of the Congo

WHO confirmed that 19,705 cases of cholera have been reported this year by the country’s ministry of health.

As of Nov. 29, 4,906 cases were identified in South Kivu, 4,565 cases in ex-Katanga, 3,971 cases in Maniema, 3,294 cases in North Kivu and 2,969 cases in ex-Oriental.

“A high number of cases are still reported in the providence of South Kivu where the situation is particularly worrying because of the presence of camps hosting refugees from Burundi,” WHO officials wrote. “Furthermore, there are concerns that the epidemic in Maniema could spread to other provinces of the country as observed during the 2011 cholera epidemic when areas of Kinshasa were also affected.”

In response to the outbreak, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) government officials along with WHO and other partner organizations opened cholera treatment centers and increased surveillance, case management and health promotion activities.

In October, WHO officials said $5 million was needed to increase cholera response efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean and African regions, according to a press release. WHO expected the threat of cholera outbreaks in Tanzania and the DRC to rise due to intense El Niño conditions and rainy weather. The organization provided DRC with 10 interagency emergency health kits, including oral rehydration salts. Each kit provides support to 10,000 people for 3 months, according to the release.

An oral cholera vaccine campaign in DRC is being considered by national and public health officials, according to WHO. A similar campaign recently was launched in Iraq. In their first round of cholera vaccinations, Iraq, WHO and UNICEF officials administered the oral cholera vaccine to 229,000 of 255,000 Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis, according to a press release. A second round was initiated earlier this month.

Based on current information, WHO does not recommend travel or trade restrictions to DRC.