Cholera epidemic hits southern Burundi

Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Some 132 cases of cholera, including nine deaths, have been recorded in the past month in Rumonge town and its surrounding areas 70 km south of Bujumbura, medical sources in the area have said.
The first full-blown cases broke out in Rumonge in early February. By early March, 130 cholera patients were recorded at the health facilities.

Five of the patients died within a month, and nine others are still confined to a hospital bed, provincial doctor, Eric Bigirimana, said.

In the past few days, Bigirimana said, the epidemic has spread to the neighbouring town of Buyengero.

Some 12 cases were recorded in the health centres of Buyengero, four of whom died, while the remaining eight patients were still confined, Bigirimana noted.

He added that the spread of the epidemic, which has reached serious proportions in the region, was made worse by the residents' poor hygienic conditions.