Central African Republic Declares Cholera Outbreak After 24 Deaths, 197 Infections

The Central African Republic (CAR) has officially declared a cholera outbreak after confirming 24 deaths and 197 infections in communities southwest of the capital, Bangui, as health authorities intensify efforts to contain the disease.

The country's Minister of Health, Pierre Somse, announced late Friday that laboratory tests had confirmed the outbreak in the Bimbo and Mbaiki health districts.

"The Ministry of Health has today, June 26, 2026 confirmed a cholera outbreak in the health districts of Bimbo and Mbaiki," Somse said.

He disclosed that emergency response measures had already been activated in the affected communities, while additional containment strategies were being deployed in neighbouring towns to prevent further transmission.

Health officials have also launched investigations to determine the source of the outbreak.

Cholera is an acute waterborne disease caused by consuming contaminated food or drinking water. It can trigger severe diarrhoea and rapid dehydration and may become fatal if not treated promptly.

Although the disease has largely been eliminated in many developed countries through improved sanitation and access to clean water, it continues to pose a significant public health threat in low-income countries with inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure.

This is the fifth recorded cholera outbreak in the Central African Republic.

During the country's previous outbreak in 2016, more than 500 people were infected, while 23 deaths were recorded.

Despite the latest outbreak, Somse assured residents that the government was fully committed to containing the disease.

"The government remains fully mobilised to contain this outbreak," the minister said, urging citizens to adhere strictly to public health guidelines and preventive measures.

The cholera outbreak comes as the Central African Republic also remains on heightened alert over a deadly Ebola outbreak reported in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, raising concerns among regional health authorities over the risk of cross-border disease transmission.

AFP