WHO Sounds Alarm: DR Congo Faces Worst Cholera Outbreak Since 2017
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The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning on Friday, declaring that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) is grappling with its most severe cholera outbreak since 2017. With a staggering 50,000 suspected cases and 470 recorded deaths in 2023, the situation has reached critical levels.
Speaking at a UN press briefing in Geneva, Boureima Hama Sambo, WHO representative to DR Congo, emphasized the dire conditions in internally displaced people (IDP) sites, where inadequate water supply, hygiene, and sanitation services create a breeding ground for cholera transmission.
In addition to the cholera crisis, DR Congo is also contending with its largest measles epidemic since 2019. With nearly 28,000 cases and 750 deaths reported in 2024, the combination of measles and malnutrition poses a grave threat to children under five.
Sambo highlighted the scarcity of vaccines and vaccination services, exacerbating the health crisis. Furthermore, communities in Eastern DR Congo have been afflicted by outbreaks of anthrax and plague in recent months.
The emergence of mpox, with nearly 4,000 suspected cases and 271 deaths recorded in 2024, adds another layer of complexity to the country's health emergency. Sambo noted the disproportionately high case fatality rate, particularly among young children.
Of grave concern is the risk of geographical expansion to previously unaffected provinces, with almost all regions, including the capital Kinshasa, now reporting cases. Sambo cautioned that this poses a threat not only to neighboring countries but also to global health security.
As DR Congo grapples with this multi-faceted health crisis, urgent action is needed to mitigate the spread of disease and prevent further loss of life.
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