October 25, 2002

UN says cholera epidemic in DRCongo has killed nearly 90

Agence France-Presse, Geneva

About 89 people have died of cholera over the past two months in the centre of the Democratic Republic of Congo and medical supplies would soon be exhausted, the United Nations said on Friday.

About 324 confirmed cases have been recorded near the town of Mbuji-Mayi, which has a population of 1.8 million, a spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told reporters.

"The situation is worrying because the number of medical personnel available to deal with such an epidemic is insufficient," spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said.

"Medical supplies will be exhausted on Monday," she added.

Most of the cases involved men who worked in a mine in the region.

Relief agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF or Doctors Without Borders) reported last month that more than 100 people were feared to have died in a cholera outbreak in the neighbouring southeastern province of Katanga in August.

Although cholera is easily treated, the infectious disease can lead to severe dehydration and death if it is not dealt with rapidly.

Source: Hindustan Times, October 25,  2002.