Burundi - Cholera outbreak 2023-2024

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January 2, 2023

The Cholera Epidemic Declared In Two Health Districts In The Town Hall Of Bujumbura

The Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS (MSPLS) declared, on January 1 , 2023, the cholera epidemic in the North and Center Health Districts of the Bujumbura City Hall. “On this date of the 1st January 2023, 5 cases are hospitalized at the Cholera Treatment Center at Prince Régent Charles Hospital for treatment and 7 have been discharged cured,” reads a statement released by the MSPLS. Thus, the Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS declared "the cholera epidemic in the North District and the Center District of the Bujumbura Town Hall" and drew "the attention of the public authorities and the population Burundi and that of the affected areas in particular" to combine efforts to contain and stop the spread of this epidemic.

Following this situation, Minister Sylvie NZEYIMANA made the trip, this very Sunday, to the Kinama Zone, one of the affected areas, to take stock of the situation. She was, among others, accompanied by the Mayor of the city of Bujumbura, the Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretary General of the Burundi Red Cross.

The Secretary General of the Burundi Red Cross (CRB) took the opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the National Society to support the public authorities in the management of the situation. Actions of spraying, distribution of water and aquatabs and sensitization of the population by the volunteers of the Burundi Red Cross had already begun. Mr. Anselme KATIYUNGURUZA promised that they will continue. The CRB will also make its expertise and equipment available to test the water in the affected areas to see if it remains drinkable for community consumption.

It should be noted that the centers of propagation are the Bukirasazi I districts of the Kinama zone, the Cibitoke and Mutakura districts of the Cibitoke zone and 20 th avenue of the Buyenzi zone. The administrators of these places are called upon to make every effort to raise awareness among the population in order to observe individual and collective hygiene measures in order not to catch this disease.

http://croixrouge.bi/lepidemie-de-cholera-declaree-dans-deux-districts-sanitaires-en-mairie-de-bujumbura/

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Declaration of a cholera epidemic in the town hall of Bujumbura

By Administrator
Jan 4, 2023

BUJUMBURA, Jan 2 (ABP) – The Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS Dr Sylvie Nzeyimana released on January 1 , 2023, a declaration of the Cholera epidemic in Bujumbura town hall.

Through this statement, Mrs. Nzeyimana said that as of December 30, 2022, the Bujumbura North health district notified 9 suspected cases of Cholera with diarrhea and vomiting, from the Bukirasazi district of the Kinama zone. She added that as of December 31, 2022, two other cases were recorded from the Cibitoke area, Cibitoke and Mutakura districts. A case was notified in the Buyenzi zone, in a subject who had visited one of the patients in the localities mentioned above.

On the samples taken and sent to the INSP laboratory for analysis, the results released on December 31, 2022 confirmed the presence of “Vibrio Cholerae”.

Dr. Nzeyimana also reported that as of January 1 , 2023, 5 cases are hospitalized at the cholera treatment center of Prince Regent Charles Hospital for treatment and 7 cases have been discharged cured. The centers of propagation are the districts of Bukirasazi I of the Kinama zone, the Cibitoke and Mutakura districts of the Cibitoke zone, the 20th avenue of the Buyenzi zone, she specified.

She took advantage of this opportunity to declare the cholera epidemic in the northern district and the central district of the town hall of Bujumbura and to draw the attention of the public authorities and the Burundian population in general and that of the affected areas in particular, to that we can combine efforts to contain and stop the spread of this epidemic in the country.

The Minister of Health recalled that contamination occurs through the consumption of contaminated food or water, while specifying that the spread of the microbe occurs through objects such as the patient's linen soiled by stools, direct handling of the sick. This potentially epidemic disease is also caused by the lack of drinking water, poor personal and environmental hygiene which results in the consumption of non-potable water and contaminated food.

Dr. Nzeyimana reminded the population in general and those in areas affected by cholera in particular, to observe individual and collective hygiene measures to avoid catching the disease. These measures include washing hands with clean water and soap before eating, after using the toilet, before breastfeeding, before preparing meals, eating well-cooked food, covering food well and drink clean water.

During the epidemic period, the Minister of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS asks the territorial administration of the areas affected by the epidemic to take substantial measures, in particular, the banning of street trade in cooked foods. and those that are eaten raw, to make a special effort to clean up the environment and mobilize the population for the correct use of latrines.

Some emergency measures have already been taken by the ministry, in particular the disinfection of affected households, raising awareness of the population on the risks of spreading the epidemic and the behaviors to adopt, as well as the active search for cases in the community.

https://abpinfo.bi/2023/01/04/declaration-dune-epidemie-de-cholera-en-mairie-de-bujumbura/

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2:44 PM · Jan 1, 2023

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Kajaga fishing port: cholera kills three

01/06/2023 Jeremy Misago

Declared on January 1, 2023, the cholera epidemic continues to claim victims. The Kajaga fishing port becomes a source of contamination. According to testimonies, 3 people have already died.

Cases of cholera have been reported for several weeks in the small fishing port of Kajaga in the commune of Mutimbuzi. According to the fishermen, three people have already died because of this epidemic, four other people are hospitalized and in critical condition.

The first victim was a fisherman. According to his colleagues, he suffered from diarrhea and vomiting. “We suspected a case of poisoning (ishano) which delayed his transfer to the hospital. He went to the health center when his state of health had already deteriorated and passed away the same day Wednesday, December 28,” they lament.

Panic fear reigns over this fishing port which has no latrines. The "environmental latrines" which were built to improve hygiene on the shores of the lake have become clogged and are out of use. No maintenance or rehabilitation activities have been carried out. To relieve themselves, some go to the nearby bush or to the water in the lake.

No Regideso drinking water tap. There is no hand washing facility. There are small restaurants that offer meals to fishermen and customers who go there. They are obliged to use the water of Lake Tanganyika but all kinds of rubbish litter the shores.
A busy port but without water or latrines

The users of this fishing port are worried. “Hygiene is sorely lacking. This fishing port has more than a thousand fishermen. Imagine the customers who come to buy products from the lake every day. If nothing is done, it will be a human catastrophe. The administration must act before the irreparable”, warns a fishing boss met on the spot.

MK has been a fisherman in this port for 20 years. He explains that this port is never spared by the cholera epidemic each time it is declared. “Our life is in danger. Almighty God alone protects us. It's inconceivable to see such a busy place that doesn't have latrines”. And to ask the government to make the drugs available at the nearest health center to treat people urgently.

This morning, Thursday January 5, the administrator of Mutimbuzi commune accompanied by the head of the police station visited the premises to inquire about the situation. As an emergency measure, all commercial activity on this beach other than fishing is prohibited until further notice. Objective, to limit the number of people in this place to slow the spread of the epidemic.

The Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS declared, on January 1, 2023, the cholera epidemic in the northern and central districts of the town hall of Bujumbura. On this date of January 1, 2023 at 12 p.m., 5 cases were hospitalized at the Cholera Treatment Center of the Prince Régent Charles Hospital for treatment and 7 were discharged cured.

According to the Ministry of Health, 38 suspected cases have been registered until January 5, 2023 at 8 a.m. 9 people are hospitalized and 29 others are already cured. Among the patients 3 are from Cibitoke province others come from Kinama, Mutakura, Cibitoke, Nyabunyegeri, Buyenzi and Bwiza zones in Bujumbura town hall and cases are reported in Isare commune, and the localities of Kajaga and Kinyinya in Mutimbuzi commune.

https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/port-de-peche-de-kajaga-le-cholera-fait-trois-morts/

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Burundi: two dead following an epidemic of cholera in the province of Bujumbura (health official)

French.news.cn | 2023-01-09 at 22:10

BUJUMBURA, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Two people died of cholera following an outbreak in Mutimbuzi district, Bujumbura province, western Burundi, precisely at Kajaga beach on Lake Tanganyika, a a provincial health official told Xinhua over the phone on Sunday.

"After hearing the statement of the Minister of Health on the cholera epidemic in certain districts of the commercial capital Bujumbura, I held a coordination meeting with the heads of the health districts and the heads of the hospitals as is done We were told of a diarrheal syndrome observed on Kajaga beach, on Lake Tanganyika," said Joël Nibigira, health director for Bujumbura province.

According to him, health officials then rushed to Kajaga beach and spoke with the fishermen who confirmed the presence of the diarrheal syndrome there.

"They (these fishermen) confirmed the presence of the diarrheal syndrome and added that seven people had already contracted the disease. Two of them died," Nibigira said.

He said that among the survivors, three were admitted to Kajaga Medical Hospital while two others were sent to Prince Regent Hospital in Bujumbura.

“Samples were taken from them and sent to the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) which confirmed the presence of cholera in these samples,” he said.
...

https://french.news.cn/20230109/1aef11383c074b52b17825ed51fc2750/c.html

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 3: 9 to 15 January 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 15 January 2023
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...
Burundi Cholera Ungraded

Date notified to WCO 1-Jan-23
Start of reporting period 1-Jan-23
End of reporting period 15-Jan-23

Total cases 81
Cases Confirmed 66
Deaths 1
CFR 1.2%

An outbreak of cholera has been declared in Burundi on 1 January 2023. As of 15 January, 81 suspected cases and one death (CFR 1.2%) have been reported, including 66 laboratory-confirmed cases. Almost 46.7% of cases (n=38) are females, with a M/F sex ratio of 1.1. The most affected age group is the 21-30 years (18 cases, 22.2%); the under-five represent 17.3% of cases (n=14). Twenty-one (21) health areas have reported one or several cases, distributed in five districts including Budjumbura North (32 cases), Cibitoke (25 cases), Isale (21 cases), Bujumbura Centre (two cases), and Bujumbura South (one case).
...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/365633/OEW03-915012023-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 5: 23 to 29 January 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 29 January 2023
...
Cholera Burundi

112 cases
1 Death
0.1% CFR

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The cholera outbreak that the Ministry of Public Health and
Fight against HIV/AIDS of Burundi declared on 1 January 2023
continues, however with declining trend. From epidemiological
week 48 2022 (week ending 3 December) to epidemiological
week 4, 2023 (ending 29 January), a total of 112 suspected
cases, including one death, were reported in four health districts,
namely Cibitoke, Isare, North Bujumbura, South Bujumbura, and
Bujumbura Centre.

Three health areas, namely Bukirasazi I in Bujumbura North
health district, Gatumba in Isare health district, and Mparambo
I in Cibitoke health district, registered 48% (n=54) of all cases.
Of the reported 112 cholera cases, 42 tested positive for cholera
by stool culture, including 38 identified as serotype 01(serotype
Ogawa) and four as serotype 139. Males contribute majority of
the cases (51 %) and the age group from 21 to 30 years old is
most affected (24%), followed by the age group from 1 to 5 years
old (20%).

Burundi reports outbreaks of cholera regularly every year. Some
of the plausible factors of cholera in Burundi have been reported
as; seasonality, population density, insufficient water-sanitation
infrastructure, considerable internal and external migration, and
unsanitary activities around Lake Tanganyika.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Ministry of health has finalized a Cholera response
plan and is coordinating cholera response activities in the
affected areas.

Case management activities are ongoing in the cholera

Treatment centres of affected health districts

Water Sanitation and Hygiene activities are implemented
in affected health districts: a total of 171 households were
disinfected in North, South Bujumbura, Isare and Cibitoke
health districts. distribution of 90 000 litres of clean water in
Bujumbura North and Cibitoke health districts, distribution of
78 kit WASH in Cibitoke health district, distribution of 6 011
aqua tabs in Bujumbura North and South, Isare and Cibitoke.

Risk communication and community engagement activities,
including door-to-door sensitisation in 207 households of
the affected health districts.

Epidemiological surveillance activities were reinforced in
affected health districts.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

The current situation of cholera in Burundi is concerning
considering that it mainly affects the capital Bujumbura, located
on Lake Tanganyika and bordering the Democratic Republic of
the Congo’s South Kivu Province, which also reports an ongoing
and worsening cholera outbreak. Therefore, there is an urgent
need to address the WASH gaps in the affected health districts,
including providing sufficient potable water to the population and
access to clean latrines. In addition, the risk communication and
community engagement activities need to be reinforced with the
implication of community leaders and community health workers.
...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/365810/OEW05-232901.pdf

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 13: 20 - 26 March 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 26 March 2023
...
All events currently being monitored by WHO AFRO
...

Burundi Cholera Grade 3

Date notified to WCO 1-Jan-23
Start of reporting period 1-Jan-23
End of reporting period 26-Mar-23

Total cases 203
Cases Confirmed 66
Deaths 1
CFR 0,50%

An outbreak of cholera has been declared in Burundi on 1 January 2023. As of 26 Mar 2023, 203 suspected cases and one death (CFR 0.5%) have been reported, including more than 66 laboratory-confirmed cases. The most affected age group is the 11-20 years (19.2%).
...

https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366672/OEW13_2026032023.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Data as reported by: 17:00; 09 July 2023
Week 27: 03 - 09 July 2023
...

Burundi

Cholera

574 Cases
9 Deaths
1.6 % CFR
Grade 3

EVENT DESCRIPTION

An outbreak of cholera has been ongoing in Burundi
since mid-December 2022. In epidemiological week 27,
the week ending 9 July 2023, 12 new cases with zero
deaths were reported across Burundi. This represents a
43% decrease in new cases compared to the previous
week when 21 cases with zero deaths were reported.
The new cases were reported from the provinces of
Bujumbura Mairie (n=8) and Rural Bujumbura (n=4) with
the North and Isare districts respectively being the main
hotspots. No new death has been reported since 10
June 2023, when the last recorded death was reported.

Cumulatively, 574 cases with nine (9) deaths (case
fatality ratio 1.6%) have been reported from four (4)
provinces across Burundi since the onset of the outbreak
on 14 December 2022. Males are slightly more affected
than females, constituting 50.2% (n=288) of the cases.
Young people between 11 to 20 years old are the most
affected, accounting for 22.0% (n=126) of the cases,
followed by children below five years old (21.0%, n=121).
Most cases have been reported from Rural Bujumbura
(n=288) and Bujumbura Mairie (n=192) provinces which
together constitute 83.6% of all cases reported across
the country. The other provinces reporting cases are
Cibitoke (n=92) and Bubanza (n=2). Of the nine (9)
deaths reported, six (6) are from Rural Bujumbura and
three (3) are from Bujumbura Mairie provinces. The
outbreak is largely concentrated in Isare, North, and
Cibitoke districts of Rural Bujumbura, Bujumbura Mairie,
and Cibitoke provinces respectively.

The districts at the current epicentre of the outbreak are
known cholera hotspots, particularly in Bujumbura Mairie
and Bujumbura Rural, which encompass the capital city
of Burundi, Bujumbura, and its surrounding areas, due to
the presence of overcrowded informal settlements with
inadequate sanitation infrastructures and poor hygiene
practices which are known drivers and risk factors for
cholera transmission. The country is currently in the dry
season when case numbers are usually low, but as the
outbreak continues to spread insidiously in the hotspot
areas this could result in a spike in cholera incidence
and cause a major emergency. The last major outbreak
of cholera in Burundi occurred between March and
September 2019, when more than 1 064 cases with 6
deaths were reported.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

The Ministry of Public Health of Burundi continues to
coordinate response activities to the cholera outbreak
with support from WHO and its partners.

Cholera surveillance activities are being routinely
performed across the country, particularly in the
affected districts, with health workers orientated to
detect and report suspected cases of cholera. Data
on cases and deaths are being generated daily and
analyzed to inform response activities.

The management of cholera cases is ongoing across
Cholera Treatment Centres (CTCs), with doctors and
nurses initially assigned to manage COVID-19 cases
being redeployed to provide clinical care for cholera
patients.

The disinfection of the households of case patients is
routinely performed by a team of health workers.

Engagement of the local population in affected areas
to mitigate at-risk activities and practices for cholera
infection are ongoing through several awarenessraising activities.

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Cholera is endemic to Burundi, with sporadic cases
reported throughout the year. However, the protracted
nature of the current outbreak, which began at the end
of last year, is of concern. The government and partners
have instituted some response efforts, but critical gaps
remain in the areas of surveillance, risk communication
and community engagement, as well as the provision
of adequate WASH services to the affected areas. The
response needs to be strengthened, and the government
and partners need to race against time to bring the
outbreak under control before the onset of the upcoming
rainy season, when there is an amplification of risk factors
for increased transmission of the disease.
...
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/370961/OEW27-0309072023.pdf

[Shiloh]

Source: https://regionweek.com/burundi-minis...es-of-cholera/


Burundi: Ministry of Health Confirms 12 New Cases of Cholera
Ntirenganya Christella by Ntirenganya Christella
September 6, 2023

The Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS announced this Tuesday, Sep.5 twelve (12) news cases of cholera in Bujumbura, Bujumbura city, and in Cibitoke province.

As the country confirmed 12 cases of cholera, the health ministry has urged the public in general and those in affected areas in particular to be vigilant...

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A cholera epidemic in the Imbo plain

06/09/2023 Dorine Niyungeko

12 cases of cholera were recorded in a single day on Tuesday, September 5 in the plain of Imbo. In a press release from the Ministry of Public Health released on September 5, an epidemic has been declared in the country.

The northern districts of the city of Bujumbura, the communes of the provinces of Bujumbura and Cibitoke are the most affected. The glaring lack of drinking water is the cause of this epidemic.

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, Polycarpe Ndayikeza, 22 people are at the Prince Régent Charles Hospital, 3 patients at Gatumba hospital in Bujumbura province and 5 others at Rugombo in Cibitoke province.

They are all treated in cholera treatment centers (CTC).

The Ministry of Public Health reminds the population of the Imbo plain that they must follow the rules of hygiene by washing their hands with soap and water.

https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/une-epidemie-de-cholera-dans-la-plaine-de-limbo/

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Translated from French by Google

Press briefing from @mspls_bdi on the situation from #choléra to @MairieBuja @BujumburaProv and #Rugombo to @CibitokeProv where an upsurge in cases is observed. The @mspls_bdi reminds us that cholera is a disease of dirty hands #Burundi #santé .







https://twitter.com/mspls_bdi/status...89260219961379

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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES

Week 39: 25 September - 1 October 2023
Data as reported by: 17:00; 1 October 2023
...

Burundi

Cholera

1 082 Cases
9 Death
0.8% CFR
3 Grade

EVENT DESCRIPTION

The cholera outbreak in Burundi that started in mid
December 2022 continues. In epidemiological week
40 (ending 1 October 2023), eight new cases and zero
deaths were reported in three health districts over ten
affected districts, namely Isare (n=5), Cibitoke (n=2) and
Kabezi (n=1). No new death has been reported since 10
June 2023.

Since our last report (n=574) in weekly bulletin for week
27 (ending 9 July 2023), the number of cases has nearly
doubled. Currently, 35 cases are active and followed in
Hôpital Prince Régent (HPR) CTC (n=11), Rugombo CTC
(n=8), Gatumba CTC (n=13) and Rumonge CTC (n=3).
From the beginning of this outbreak until 1 October 2023,
a total of 1 082 cases, including nine deaths (CFR 0.8%)
and 1 038 recovered, have been reported from 10 health
districts across the country.

The majority of reported cases (80%) have been
reported from Rural Bujumbura (n=446) and Bujumbura
Mairie (n=409) provinces. Additional cases have been
notified from Cibitoke (n=216), Bubanza (n=8), and
Rumonge (n=3) provinces. Among the nine reported
fatalities, six occurred in Rural Bujumbura, while three
were in Bujumbura Mairie provinces. The outbreak
is predominantly concentrated in the Isare (n=403),
Cibitoke (n=216), and Bujumbura North (n=337) health
districts within Rural Bujumbura, Bujumbura Mairie, and
Cibitoke provinces.

Males remain more affected than females, constituting
54.5% (n=584) of the cases. Young people between 11
to 20 years old are the most affected, accounting for
22.6% (n=244) of the cases, followed by the 21 to 30
years old age group (21.3%, n=230) and children below
five years (18.0%, n=194).

Bujumbura Mairie and Bujumbura Rural districts are
particularly recognised as cholera hotspots. These
areas encompass the capital city of Burundi, Bujumbura,
and its surrounding regions. The high prevalence of
overcrowded informal settlements, insufficient sanitation
infrastructure, and poor hygiene practices contribute
significantly to the transmission of cholera, representing
well-established drivers and risk factors for the disease.

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS

• The Ministry of Public Health of Burundi continues to
coordinate response activities to the cholera outbreak
with support from WHO and its partners.
• Cholera surveillance activities are routinely performed
nationwide, particularly in the affected districts. Health
workers have been trained to identify and promptly report
any suspected cases of cholera
• Cholera case management is ongoing across several
Cholera Treatment Centers (CTCs)
• To enhance case management, Emergency operation
center personnel, including doctors and nurses, have
been deployed to provide assistance. MSF teams oversee
these activities and are responsible for delivering training
and offering support in patient care and the WASH
component at both Rugombo and HPRC CTCs.
• WHO, UNICEF, and MSF have provided logistic supply
(medicines and Wash kits) to Rugombo and HPRC. MSF is
supporting with provision of food to hospitalised patients
at Rugombo and HPRC CTCs, as well as the staff, to
mitigate the risk of Vibrio transmission in the communities
• Water and sanitation activities (WASH), including the
distribution of aqua tabs and the supply and installation
of water tanks supported by partners, are ongoing
in Cibitoke, Isare, and Bujumbura Nord districts. Risk
communication and community engagement activities
in affected areas to mitigate practices with high risk of
cholera infection is ongoing through several awareness
raising activities

SITUATION INTERPRETATION

Burundi is facing a persistent cholera outbreak,
exacerbated predominantly by inadequate water and
sanitation conditions in affected areas throughout the
country. The ongoing challenges related to accessing
clean water and the scarcity of latrines continue to be
reported, with notable concerns in areas like Kinyinya
refugee camp. Recognising the endemic nature of cholera
in Burundi, it is crucial to implement long-term solutions
that address WASH conditions effectively. Additionally,
there is a need to strengthen surveillance, enhance risk
communication, and actively engage communities within
the affected areas.

https://www.afro.who.int/countries/uganda/publication/outbreaks-and-emergencies-bulletin-week-39-25-september-1-october-2023

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Cibitoke/Rugombo West Region: More than 90 cases of cholera declared to the Rugombo CDS

10/30/2023 Jackson Bahati 0

The situation has become alarming and cases of cholera continue to increase. Originally, clean water was sorely lacking. The administrative and health authorities intend to carry out field raids to encourage residents to scrupulously observe hygiene rules.

The 91 cases of cholera declared in less than three months are located in only 10 hills, namely Rukana I and II, Mparabo I and II, Rusiga, Rugeregere, Munyika I and II, Kagazi and Rusororo, while the commune has 17.

The patients are in a very critical condition and are being treated at the site level at the Rugombo health center. There, he spent at least a week and returned cured. “The medications are in sufficient quantity and no deaths have been recorded despite the increase in cases ,” insists a nurse assigned to the emergency departments.

The increase in cholera cases is due to the shortage of drinking water observed in this environment. “There has been no water in public taps and households for quite some time and residents are resorting to dirty water from the Nyamagana, Nyakagunda, Muhira and Rusizi rivers. The water drawn and used in households contains vectors for the transmission of dirty diseases, in this case cholera ,” insists an administrator on condition of anonymity. According to him, it is also the water that serves as irrigation for crop fields.

NGOs are active

Médecin Sans Frontière provides medicines for necessary care with awareness-raising in collaboration with community leaders to encourage the population to respect hygiene rules and transport patients to the nearest hospitals in emergencies. “Residents are called upon to disinfect their homes and ensure the hygiene of homes, household objects and food ,” specifies one of the community leaders met in the capital of the Rugombo commune.

The Red Cross and civil protection constantly supply clean water to residents using tanker trucks. Despite all these efforts, residents are asking state authorities to increase the number of public taps and increase the flow rate. Following the expansion of the urban center of Rugombo, it is also important to develop other water sources to meet the needs of the now numerous population.

One of the administrators contacted locally said that major awareness campaigns, especially to encourage residents of the affected hills to observe hygiene rules, are underway.

The head of the Cibitoke branch of Regideso asks the population to use the water that is available efficiently, before indicating that a project to develop new water sources is underway to cope with the needs of a population that continues to increase.

Cibitoke

https://www.iwacu-burundi.org/region-ouest-cibitoke-rugombo-plus-de-90-cas-de-cholera-declares-au-cds-rugombo/

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Translation Google
Burundi: progress in reducing mortality due to cholera

March 26, 2024

“One fine morning, I started having diarrhea and vomiting. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I felt very tired and in pain,” says Geoffroy Havyarimana, on his bed at the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) in Bujumbura. The thirty-year-old, originally from the Kamenge district in the Burundian capital, before going to the CTC, as he suspected cholera, he started drinking a lot of water as recommended during the awareness sessions.

On January 1, 2023, Burundi declared a cholera epidemic, which more than a year later still remains active. Since then, 12 health districts out of the 49 in the country have been affected, but currently only one health district, that of Bujumbura, continues to report cases. Cholera has always been endemic in Burundi. The most commonly affected provinces are located along Lake Tanganyika and the Rusizi River.

“This situation is due to certain factors linked to the deplorable environmental conditions prevailing in the Imbo plain, especially on the coast of Lake Tanganyika,” explains Dr Perfect Shingiro, Head of the Health Information and Communication Department of the Operations Center. Public Health Emergency (COUSP). “In this part of the country, the water table is quite close to the ground, making it very difficult to build adequate latrines. »

Furthermore, the locality of Gatumba, located 15 km west of Bujumbura, is often affected by serious floods causing overflow of latrine contents which flow into Lake Tanganyika. Due to the lack of drinking water points in the area, households are forced to drink polluted water from the lake. Added to these factors are others of a socio-ecological nature relating to overpopulation, thus making hygiene and sanitation conditions very precarious.

Favorable conditions for cholera, a disease that the country is trying to contain while limiting deaths. According to the situation report (SITREP) dated March 10, 2024, the country has recorded, since the start of the epidemic declared in January 2023, a cumulative number of 1,456 cases including 10 deaths. That is to say a fatality rate estimated at 0.7%.

Maintaining the case fatality rate below 1%, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is the result of actions carried out in various areas including early detection and rapid management of cases. To do this, the Government has installed CTCs in the 9 localities which constitute the “cholera belt” for adequate care. “Medication treatment is free and in certain cases, depending on the extent of the epidemic, patients also benefit from nutritional support to prevent the spread of the disease,” indicates Dr Severin Bihorubusa, Attending Physician. at the CTC in Bujumbura, which has a capacity of 30 beds.

In addition to these practical measures to contain the epidemic, Burundi has adopted a multisectoral strategic plan for the elimination of cholera by 2030.
This plan, supported by partners, aims to reduce morbidity linked to cholera.

WHO supports the country through response interventions relating to drug donations for case management, training of health workers, implementation of approaches to improve hygiene and sanitation in affected localities, strengthening the detection and rapid referral of cases and advocating for access to drinking water in areas without it.

“The fight against cholera is a multisectoral fight. While we support patient care to prevent deaths, we also strengthen preventive measures such as sanitation and hygiene to contain the epidemic,” says Dr Jim Thierry Ntwari, Team Leader for the preparedness and response to health emergencies from the WHO Office in Burundi. “Awareness and community engagement are pillars that we take into account. »

Geoffroy, cured, is about to leave the CTC in Bujumbura. Now he has mastered the behaviors to avoid to protect himself from this disease. “From now on, I will be careful about what I eat and especially the water I drink. If I can't find drinking water, I'll buy it with my money,” he says. “I also heard that there is a vaccine against cholera. Why not get vaccinated to protect yourself from this disease? »


https://www.afro.who.int/fr/countrie...due-au-cholera