Central African Republic: Government declares cholera epidemic after 24 deaths

The Central African government has officially declared a cholera epidemic after the confirmation of 24 deaths and 197 cases in the districts of Bimbo and Mbaïki, southwest of the capital Bangui, Health Minister Dr. Pierre Somse announced Friday evening.

"While our country, the Central African Republic, is facing the threat of the Ebola virus epidemic raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the Ministry of Health and Population, with the support of the Pasteur Institute of Bangui, has just confirmed today, June 26, 2026, a cholera epidemic in the health district of Bimbo and Mbaïki," the minister said at a press conference.

"Preventive measures have been put in place in the affected localities and villages," he said, adding that other measures were being deployed in surrounding towns to prevent the spread of the disease.

Cholera is transmitted through water and food contaminated with bacteria and can cause dehydration and diarrhea. Modern wastewater treatment has virtually eradicated the disease in most wealthy countries. However, poverty and insecurity in this landlocked Central African nation, one of the poorest in the world, are major risk factors for its resurgence.

The ministry is currently conducting investigations to determine the origin of this outbreak, the fifth in the country. During the last officially declared outbreak in 2016, 522 cases and 23 deaths were recorded.

Awareness campaigns have already been launched across the entire national territory.

The minister called on civil servants, political leaders, religious leaders, the media and the entire population to actively participate in raising awareness to reduce the risks of transmission.

"I want to reassure the Central African population: the government remains fully mobilized to contain this epidemic," he stressed, insisting on strict adherence to barrier measures and health guidelines.