IRC Responds to Cholera Outbreak in Congo

Bukavu, CONGO - 22 Dec 2006 -   An IRC emergency team is responding to a serious outbreak of cholera in Congo. Over the past two months the seven-person team has provided almost 4,000 liters of cholera treatment drugs, 3,000 sacks of oral re-hydration salts and over 40 treatment beds to affected people in South Kivu province. The team also installed three 10,000-liter fresh water containers at the Bukavu provincial hospital and the Panzi hospital in South Kivu. Other equipment, including buckets, blankets and gloves were provided to hospitals and other responding agencies.

“Reported new cases have almost doubled over the past few weeks, rising from 315 during the last week of November to over 800 during the first week of December,” said Christopher Rae, program coordinator for the response team.

The outbreak is being attributed mainly to the lack of potable water in the region. During the rainy season, filth and waste from unsecured latrines is often washed into unprotected water sources, severely contaminating the water used by local residents.

Since its inception two years ago, the IRC emergency program has responded to over 150 crises in Congo and helped over one million people. Other agencies involved in the anti-cholera effort include the World Health Organization, Médecins Sans Frontières /Holland and UNICEF.