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The Democratic Republic of the Congo is currently experiencing a tenth Ebola epidemic in the east of the country, killing 180 people, and many cases of polio and measles. The country is also facing a cholera epidemic that began in 2017. Since the beginning of the year and until mid-October, the Congolese Ministry of Health has registered more than 880 people who died of this disease over 25,000 cases reported. Almost all provinces are affected, according to the country's authorities who have begun to implement a health response. But halting this cholera outbreak will be complicated.
Already 22 provinces affected of the 26 in the DRC. Everyone recognizes today that the cholera epidemic has progressed geographically, even though the authorities claim to have been able to contain it in terms of the number of its victims. In question, lack of resources, inherent weaknesses in the health system or even insalubrity.
The authorities also point to the appearance of a new Ebola outbreak, especially in the north-east of the country.
" This year was the moment when we wanted to focus energy to organize the response to Ebola. This has mobilized resources and even staff to organize the fight "Said Dr. Aruna Abedi, Director of Epidemiological Surveillance in the DRC.
The government and the WHO badure that they are doing everything possible to stem this cholera outbreakeven if, in the current state, it will be difficult to completely defeat, in the country, the dirty hands disease As it is called.
" The problem of cholera is multi-sectoral. As long as people do not have clean water, until people have access to sanitation, it will be difficult to control cholera in the DRC Explains Dr Gervais Folesack, WHO Emergency Coordinator in that country.
In the meantime, WHO has just proposed to the government the vaccination of some 6 million people at risk. This is a new strategy to fight cholera alongside those that have already been proven elsewhere such as the adoption of hygiene measures.
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