1 000 cholera cases in DRC
2008-11-11 18:00
Geneva - The World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday that cholera poses a "serious risk" in conflict-hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where about 1 000 cases have been reported since October.
"WHO is extremely concerned with the increasing threat of cholera in the eastern DRC," spokesperson Paul Garwood told journalists.
Cholera is endemic in the area and at least 1 000 cases have been reported since the beginning of October, and "this is a direct result of the increasing insecurity in the region", Garwood said.
"The trend is increasing but there has been no explosion yet," he added.
The WHO said it has 60 tons of supplies, including medicines and supplies to treat cholera and other diarrhoeal diseases, in the Ugandan capital Kampala ready for immediate transport to the region.
Fighting between the DR Congo's government and followers of renegade Tutsi ex-general Laurent Nkunda has killed at least 100 civilians since September and displaced more than 250 000, the United Nations and humanitarian groups have said.