Translation Google
DRC: Cholera epidemic increasingly worrying across the country
— Tuesday, October 21, 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to be hit by
a cholera epidemic of alarming intensity. In just nine months, more than 58,000 suspected cases have been recorded, according to the Ministry of Health.
This is one of the most serious epidemics of the last ten years, revealing the scale of the health crisis raging in the country.
Faced with this rapid progression, immediate and reinforced mobilization of national authorities, humanitarian actors and international partners is essential to contain the spread of the disease.
Twenty of the country's 26 provinces are now affected. From January to mid-October, more than 1,700 deaths were recorded, with a case fatality rate exceeding 3.0%.
The situation continues to worsen , continuing to spread to new health zones, including provinces that were previously not endemic for cholera.
Flooding, conflict, displacement, and inadequate sanitation and water supply systems have contributed to widespread outbreaks. As the rainy season approaches, the situation is likely to deteriorate, increasing the risk of disease transmission and contamination.
"The rapid spread of the epidemic across the country this year is a particular concern for us, especially during the rainy season . We fear new outbreaks if urgent measures are not taken ," warns Dr. Jean-Gilbert Ndong, MSF medical coordinator in the DRC.
Since January 2025, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has intensified its response to the disease in several provinces across the country, including North and South Kivu, Maniema, Sankuru, Tshopo, Equateur, Kinshasa, Mai-Ndombe, Haut-Katanga, and Tanganyika. Teams currently remain mobilized in the most affected areas, such as Fizi (South Kivu) and Kongakonga (Tshopo).
Since January, they have already carried out 16 emergency interventions in support of the Ministry of Health, allowing more than 35,800 patients to be treated and more than 22,000 people to be vaccinated against the disease.
At this critical stage, only general mobilization will make it possible to contain the disease on the ground and slow the alarming expansion of epidemic outbreaks ,” insists Dr. Ndong.
On the ground, efforts are struggling to keep up
The response on the ground faces major obstacles : insufficient funding from the Congolese government, limited presence of humanitarian actors , and a lack of coordination within the emergency response mechanism. In addition, weak surveillance and suspected case identification systems, a lack of medical personnel and supplies, and limited vaccine distribution further compromise the implementation of a rapid, effective, and sustainable response.
Wherever our teams operate, the findings are alarming: existing structures are not adapted to deal with cholera, and medical supplies and vaccines are lacking.
"Working with local Ministry of Health staff, we are trying to contain the disease. But the scale of the crisis requires urgent mobilization of all partners, even in remote areas. The Congolese government and humanitarian actors must strengthen financial and medical resources, particularly the distribution and delivery of vaccines, as well as the emergency response mechanism to support the fight against cholera ," pleads Ton Berg, head of MSF programs in South Kivu.
Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection that, if left untreated, can be rapidly fatal – yet it is treatable and preventable.
Its spread is primarily facilitated by poor hygiene conditions, insufficient access to clean water, and poor sanitation. This poses a particular challenge in densely populated areas, particularly large cities such as Kinshasa and rural areas with high concentrations of internally displaced people.
MSF teams have had to intensify their efforts to fill gaps left by the weak emergency response mechanisms of health authorities and other actors. To slow the spread of the disease, MSF is supporting the Ministry of Health in providing medical care in specialized treatment centers, training community health workers and setting up chlorination points, and strengthening water and sanitation systems.
"We call for coordinated and urgent action to ensure the rapid provision of medical care, including unhindered access and sustained investment in access to clean water and sanitation ," Berg continued.
Behind every intervention, limited access to care
As MSF teams race to the outbreak sites, access to cholera patients is hampered by significant challenges : logistical difficulties, security risks, administrative and supply barriers. For example, the months-long closure of Bukavu and Goma airports is hampering the main supply routes to the east of the country.
In the Fizi health zone of South Kivu, the presence of humanitarian partners remains limited and virtually none have specifically engaged in the fight against the disease.
"The persistent insecurity , marked by clashes between armed groups along the main roads, hinders movement and delays the delivery of aid, forcing teams to make long detours to avoid risk areas ," Berg laments.
For communities, access to healthcare also poses a huge challenge . Long distances, poor transportation, and security conditions make it difficult to access medical facilities. Once there, these centers are often underequipped and unable to meet basic needs, leaving the most vulnerable populations without essential care.
Cholera must be placed at the heart of national priorities as a major threat to public health in the DRC.
MSF calls for coordinated action to ensure the rapid provision of medical care, including the availability of vaccines, unhindered access, and sustainable investments in access to clean water and sanitation.
https://msf.lu/articles/rdc-une-epidemie-cholera-de-plus-en-plus-preoccupante-travers-le-pays
