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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 52: 20 – 26 December 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 December 2021
...
Cholera Democratic Republic of the Congo
8 279 Cases
153 Death
1.8% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Several suspected cases of cholera continue to be reported in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the beginning of this year
up to week 47 (ending 28 November) a cumulative number of 8 279
cases and 153 deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR) = 1.8%) have been
reported in 80 health zones across 16 provinces of the country. The
weekly average number of suspected cases reported is 176 with a
minimum of 25 cases and a maximum of 544 cases. The country
has recorded an incidence (per 100,000 populations) of 23, while at
provincial level, Tanganyika (175), Haut-Lomami (37), Sud-Kivu (28)
and Haut-Katanga (24) have the highest incidences.
During week 47 (ending 28 November 2021), 541 suspected cases
and 5 deaths (CFR = 0.9%) were reported in 16 health zones from 5
provinces. Almost all of the cases, 521 (96.3%), were reported in the
provinces of Haut-Lomami, Tanganyika, and South Kivu. In the same
week, South Kivu province had the highest number of cases reported
with 270 suspected cholera cases, which is an increase of almost
20% from week 46 (ending 21 November).
Most cases in South Kivu province were reported from Fizi (222)
and Uvira (41) health zones, although five health zones reported
cases, during this week 47. In addition, from 4 to 7 December 2021,
Kimbi Lulenge health zone reported 44 cases and 10 deaths, mainly
reported from Misisi (mining squares) and Lulimba health areas.
Only Lulimba health area has a functional cholera treatment center;
as a result, this is limiting access to care for cholera patients coming
from Misisi which is located 12 km from Lulimba.
For Tanganyika province, 145 cases and 1 death (CFR = 0.7%) have
been reported during the week 47 in 5 health zones. The majority of
cases 125 (86.2%) were reported from Moba, Kalemie and Nyemba
health zones. There has been a decrease in cases reported in
Kansimba, Kalemie and Nyemba health zones for three consecutive
weeks and a slight decrease in cases has also been noted for Moba
health zone in week 47.
A total 106 suspected cases and 4 deaths (CFR = 3.8%) were
reported from Haut-Lomami province in week 47. The majority of
cases are reported from Mulongo (68 cases), Malemba-Nkulu (23)
and Kinkondja (14) health zones. A 15.9% decrease in cases is seen
between week 47 and week 46 (ending 21 November) with 126 cases
reported in this province.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Coordination meetings with Ministry of health partners at the
national and local levels are ongoing and the preparation of
a joint field mission to the affected provinces of Tanganyika,
North Kivu, and South Kivu with aim of cholera surveillance
A support mission to the border health zones of Haut-Lomami
province has been conducted
The WHO and other partners are currently supporting
strengthening of surveillance around cases detected in the
affected
Case management with support from ministry of health partners
is ongoing in the affected provinces as well as the provision of
cholera kits to the affected health districts etc
Safe and dignified burials, community sensitization activities,
households’ disinfection around cases and water chlorination
and distribution of purification tablets continue
The preparation for the first round of the preventive oral
vaccination campaign against cholera in 106 health areas of
13 health zones of South Kivu, Tanganyika, and Haut-Lomami
regions is ongoing.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The current ascending cholera epidemic curve shows a deterioration
of the situation. There is a resurgence of cases in areas that had
remained silent for several weeks, particularly the Kasai province.
Access to quality water and healthy sanitation facilities in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo is still poor. Case fatality ratio
remains high compared to WHO standards (less than 1%), which
could reflect either a weakness in case management or late health
care seeking for cholera patients.
PROPOSED ACTION
Risk communication activities on cholera should be intensified
in the affected and at-risk areas to prevent new cases and
promote rapid health care seeking behavior for patients in order
to reduce as much as possible the case fatality ratio, which is
still high.
Vaccination campaign announced few weeks ago should be now
implemented to limit the outbreak spread. It is also important
to identify all sources of contamination as quickly as possible
and eliminate them
For the longer term, required efforts should be deployed to
implement the regional framework for the implementation of the
global strategy for cholera prevention and control, 2018–2030.
...
OEW52-2026122021.pdf (2.288Mb)
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 52: 20 – 26 December 2021
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 December 2021
...
Cholera Democratic Republic of the Congo
8 279 Cases
153 Death
1.8% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
Several suspected cases of cholera continue to be reported in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the beginning of this year
up to week 47 (ending 28 November) a cumulative number of 8 279
cases and 153 deaths (case fatality ratio (CFR) = 1.8%) have been
reported in 80 health zones across 16 provinces of the country. The
weekly average number of suspected cases reported is 176 with a
minimum of 25 cases and a maximum of 544 cases. The country
has recorded an incidence (per 100,000 populations) of 23, while at
provincial level, Tanganyika (175), Haut-Lomami (37), Sud-Kivu (28)
and Haut-Katanga (24) have the highest incidences.
During week 47 (ending 28 November 2021), 541 suspected cases
and 5 deaths (CFR = 0.9%) were reported in 16 health zones from 5
provinces. Almost all of the cases, 521 (96.3%), were reported in the
provinces of Haut-Lomami, Tanganyika, and South Kivu. In the same
week, South Kivu province had the highest number of cases reported
with 270 suspected cholera cases, which is an increase of almost
20% from week 46 (ending 21 November).
Most cases in South Kivu province were reported from Fizi (222)
and Uvira (41) health zones, although five health zones reported
cases, during this week 47. In addition, from 4 to 7 December 2021,
Kimbi Lulenge health zone reported 44 cases and 10 deaths, mainly
reported from Misisi (mining squares) and Lulimba health areas.
Only Lulimba health area has a functional cholera treatment center;
as a result, this is limiting access to care for cholera patients coming
from Misisi which is located 12 km from Lulimba.
For Tanganyika province, 145 cases and 1 death (CFR = 0.7%) have
been reported during the week 47 in 5 health zones. The majority of
cases 125 (86.2%) were reported from Moba, Kalemie and Nyemba
health zones. There has been a decrease in cases reported in
Kansimba, Kalemie and Nyemba health zones for three consecutive
weeks and a slight decrease in cases has also been noted for Moba
health zone in week 47.
A total 106 suspected cases and 4 deaths (CFR = 3.8%) were
reported from Haut-Lomami province in week 47. The majority of
cases are reported from Mulongo (68 cases), Malemba-Nkulu (23)
and Kinkondja (14) health zones. A 15.9% decrease in cases is seen
between week 47 and week 46 (ending 21 November) with 126 cases
reported in this province.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Coordination meetings with Ministry of health partners at the
national and local levels are ongoing and the preparation of
a joint field mission to the affected provinces of Tanganyika,
North Kivu, and South Kivu with aim of cholera surveillance
A support mission to the border health zones of Haut-Lomami
province has been conducted
The WHO and other partners are currently supporting
strengthening of surveillance around cases detected in the
affected
Case management with support from ministry of health partners
is ongoing in the affected provinces as well as the provision of
cholera kits to the affected health districts etc
Safe and dignified burials, community sensitization activities,
households’ disinfection around cases and water chlorination
and distribution of purification tablets continue
The preparation for the first round of the preventive oral
vaccination campaign against cholera in 106 health areas of
13 health zones of South Kivu, Tanganyika, and Haut-Lomami
regions is ongoing.
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
The current ascending cholera epidemic curve shows a deterioration
of the situation. There is a resurgence of cases in areas that had
remained silent for several weeks, particularly the Kasai province.
Access to quality water and healthy sanitation facilities in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo is still poor. Case fatality ratio
remains high compared to WHO standards (less than 1%), which
could reflect either a weakness in case management or late health
care seeking for cholera patients.
PROPOSED ACTION
Risk communication activities on cholera should be intensified
in the affected and at-risk areas to prevent new cases and
promote rapid health care seeking behavior for patients in order
to reduce as much as possible the case fatality ratio, which is
still high.
Vaccination campaign announced few weeks ago should be now
implemented to limit the outbreak spread. It is also important
to identify all sources of contamination as quickly as possible
and eliminate them
For the longer term, required efforts should be deployed to
implement the regional framework for the implementation of the
global strategy for cholera prevention and control, 2018–2030.
...
OEW52-2026122021.pdf (2.288Mb)
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