A cholera outbreak that struck the Burundian town of Rumonge in the province of Bururi less than two weeks ago has already sickened some 86 people, killing one, according to a PNA/Xinhua report today.
“For less than two weeks, at least 86 persons from Rumonge neighborhoods came to hospital with cholera symptoms and one of them has died,” said Dr Lambert Bigirindavyi, Director of Rumonge Hospital.
The situation in Rumonge is dire as stocks of drugs and medical equipment is on very short supply. Bigirindavyi said, “One week ago cholera was declared in Rumonge town in two neighborhoods including Iteba and Nkayamba, but it has now expanded to six neighborhoods namely Iteba, Nkayamba, the Swahili neighborhood, Kagongo, Ihwanya and Nyakarara. “
Clean, potable drinking water has been an issue in Rumonge as resident have resorted to drinking unclean water from Lake Tanganyika.
Burundi is a landlocked country in the African Great Lakes region of Southeast Africa, bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west.
Cholera is a bacterial disease that can cause diarrhea and dehydration. Cholera is most often spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water. Water may be contaminated by the feces of an infected person or by untreated sewage. Food is often contaminated by water containing cholera bacteria or by being handled by a person ill with cholera. For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page
