MSF Warns of Worsening Cholera Epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo
MSF Warns of Worsening Cholera Epidemic in Democratic Republic of Congo
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Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has raised alarm over a rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has recorded more than 58,000 suspected cases in the past nine months. According to data from the Ministry of Health, over 1,700 people have died since January, making it one of the country’s worst cholera epidemics in a decade.
The disease has now spread to 20 of DRC’s 26 provinces, including areas where cholera was not previously endemic. MSF warned that the situation is likely to deteriorate further as the rainy season approaches, increasing the risk of transmission. The organization attributed the spread to poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, displacement, and flooding caused by ongoing conflict.
MSF has expanded its response since early 2025, conducting emergency operations in several provinces, including North and South Kivu, Maniema, Tshopo, Equateur, and Kinshasa. More than 35,800 patients have received treatment, and over 22,000 people have been vaccinated. However, the organization said its efforts are being undermined by insufficient funding, logistical challenges, and weak coordination among national and humanitarian agencies.
Health facilities remain poorly equipped to handle the outbreak, facing shortages of medicines, vaccines, and trained personnel. MSF emphasized that only a unified national and international effort can slow the epidemic’s alarming spread. The group called on the Congolese government and aid organizations to increase financial support, improve vaccine distribution, and strengthen emergency response mechanisms.
Cholera, a preventable bacterial infection, can become fatal without prompt treatment. It continues to thrive in areas with poor hygiene and limited water and sanitation infrastructure, posing particular risks in densely populated cities like Kinshasa and among displaced communities.
MSF teams are supporting the Ministry of Health with medical care, training, chlorination efforts, and sanitation projects but face severe obstacles, including insecurity, damaged transport routes, and the closure of key airports in eastern DRC. The organization urged authorities to prioritize cholera as a national health emergency and invest in long-term access to safe water and sanitation to prevent future outbreaks.
