Cholera Claims 3,644 Lives in DRC as Country Battles Double Epidemic

A cholera epidemic continues to spread across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with more than 125,000 suspected cases and 3,644 suspected deaths by the end of September 2026, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned. 

The outbreak is worsening amid limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities, while the country is also grappling with an Ebola epidemic that is putting additional pressure on its healthcare system. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 51,412 suspected cholera cases, including 1,487 deaths, have been reported across 21 provinces, according to WHO. 

The situation deteriorated during the week ending September 28, when health authorities recorded 2,932 suspected cases and 86 deaths, compared with 2,506 cases and 62 deaths in the preceding week. 

South Kivu, North Kivu and Haut-Katanga provinces account for nearly 60 per cent of the reported suspected cases, with transmission remaining high in areas where the disease is endemic. During the latest surveillance period, four additional health zones reported cholera cases, three in Tshuapa Province and one in South Kivu. 

However, response efforts are being hampered by insecurity and logistical challenges, particularly in eastern DRC, where violence has restricted medical teams’ access to some affected areas, including Kibua and Masisi. The distance between remote villages and healthcare facilities is also delaying treatment, increasing the risk of deaths, WHO warned. 

Environmental conditions are further contributing to the spread of the disease. The use of well water and rainfall can introduce contaminated water into sources used by households, increasing the risk of infection. 

To contain the outbreak, response teams are preparing to establish four water chlorination sites in the worst-affected areas of North Kivu. In Tanganyika Province, authorities are planning to disinfect nearly 4,000 households and 5,900 latrines. 

Preparations are also underway for an oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting islands along the Congo River corridor, while the DRC and neighbouring Republic of Congo are developing a joint cross-border vaccination plan. 

In South Kivu, reactive vaccination campaigns are continuing in the Mulungu and Shabunda health zones, alongside community awareness activities aimed at preventing further transmission. Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease that can cause death within hours if left untreated. 

WHO says prompt access to treatment, safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and proper hygiene are critical to preventing infections and reducing fatalities. The worsening cholera outbreak comes as the DRC continues to battle Ebola, further straining the country’s already overstretched healthcare system. 

According to the latest WHO data published on Tuesday, the Ebola outbreak has resulted in 9,066 cases and 4,381 deaths across seven provinces and 65 health zones, representing a case fatality rate of 48.3 per cent. The report also recorded 2,389 recoveries. 

WHO and its partners are supporting response operations across the country. In Haut-Uele Province, the Ebola treatment centre in Isiro has been expanded to accommodate more patients while ensuring that essential health services continue at the city’s main general referral hospital. 

WHO has also delivered an additional tonne of medical supplies to strengthen response operations on the ground.