Burundi: Cholera Outbreak - Oct 2012
Disaster description
On 3 Oct 2012, a cholera outbreak was confirmed in Burundi, and the Minister of Health declared a national disaster. In general, cholera is endemic in Burundi and reoccurs at the onset of each rainy season. In the present situation, the cholera cases increased mainly because the rainy season started very early. 180 cases were reported over a period of six weeks, including one death. The situation became exacerbated in the affected districts because of lack of safe drinking water and unhygienic latrines. By the end of December, no other cholera outbreaks had been reported and the Minister of Health declared the end of the epidemic. (IFRC, 30 Jun 2013)