By Michael Gwarisa
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) accounts for 68 percent of all cholera cases reported in the region in 2026, as well as 80 percent of all cholera-related deaths, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said.
Other African countries currently experiencing active cholera outbreaks include Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Burundi.
Africa CDC Deputy Incident Manager for the Incident Management Support Team (IMST), Professor Yap Boum, told journalists during a weekly media briefing that the worsening cholera situation in the DRC was now having a spillover effect into neighbouring countries.
“Conflict and displacement are currently the key drivers of what we are seeing in the DRC, but they are also affecting neighbouring countries such as Burundi. The movement of refugees is contributing to the spread of cholera across borders,” said Professor Boum.
He added that Burundi was implementing a multi-sectoral approach to cholera prevention and control, including strong engagement with the private sector, to improve access to safe and clean water.
“Cholera in the DRC is occurring on the outskirts of Kinshasa, which we know is a capital city with more than 20 million inhabitants. This is one of the most critical hotspots, but cases are also being recorded in other provinces such as South Kivu, North Kivu and Lomami,” he said.
Meanwhile, the cholera outbreak across the continent is expected to feature prominently on the agenda of a side event at the upcoming African Union Summit, as the number of affected countries continues to rise.
“At the AU Summit, the AU Champion, the President of Zambia, His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, will highlight the efforts that have been put in place to address cholera. These include the Continental Cholera Plan and the establishment of a task force,” said Professor Boum.
“More critically, the discussions will emphasise the role that other sectors must play in increasing access to safe water, because improved access to water is one of the most effective ways to prevent and control cholera,” he added.
Professor Boum said assessments would also be conducted in Zimbabwe, as cases have been reported in Zambia, Namibia and other countries in the region.
In Mozambique, cholera cases are on the rise, with an estimated 870 cases reported this week compared to 296 cases recorded the previous week. The number of deaths has also increased from five to 22.
“We currently have 98 deaths, with a case fatality ratio of one percent out of nearly 8,000 suspected cases,” he said.
Five provinces in Mozambique have been affected, with recurrent flooding emerging as the main driver of infections.
“I mentioned the cyclones that have affected these regions, including Cyclone Dikeledi and Cyclone Jude in Nampula Province. Discussions this week with partners such as WHO, UNICEF and IFRC have focused on strengthening the regional response to support affected areas,” Professor Boum said.
