Kinshasa, July 1st, 2025 (CPA). – Thirteen (13) of the 35 health zones in the city of Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), are affected by the cholera epidemic, has announced the provincial minister in charge of public health on Tuesday truth a video viewed by CPA. ‘The city province of Kinshasa is facing cholera epidemics. Of the 35 health zones in the province of Kinshasa, 13 are affected,’ has declared Dr Patricien Gongo Abakazi, Provincial Minister in charge of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare. To date, he has specified, 13 areas are affected, namely the Kokolo health zone with 70 cases including 10 deaths, Makala with 30 cases and 10 deaths, Kinseso with 10 cases including 5 deaths, Ngiri-Ngiri with 12 cases including 1 death, Limete with 6 cases including 1 death, Kalamu with 2 cases and 1 death, Bumbu with 2 cases and zero deaths, Lemba with one case, and Kingabwa with one case.
‘The most affected health zone remains Kokolo with 70 cases, including 10 deaths. We have recorded 28 deaths, including 9 community deaths, which should increase our vigilance, ’has said the provincial health minister. He has stated that the city province of Kinshasa currently has four cholera treatment units hidden in four health zones, namely the Kokolo health zone, Limete in Pakadjuma, Ngiri-Ngiri and Bumbu, with several treatment units currently being set up. To prevent this epidemic, Dr Patricien Gongo advised the population to drink potable water and wash their hands with clean water and soap, especially after using the toilet and before eating or cooking. ‘We must eat well-cooked food, use clean latrines and avoid defecating in the open air. Vigilance must be maintained,’ he has added. Cholera is an acute, highly contagious intestinal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food. Its symptoms include watery or frothy diarrhoea, vomiting, sometimes nausea, muscle cramps, severe dehydration, intense thirst and, at times, a drop in blood pressure. CPA/