Cholera cases are being reported in several parts of Bujumbura, Burundi’s commercial capital, as residents face shortages of clean water and limited access to sanitation.
SOS Médias Burundi reports that patients from Gihosha and nearby areas have been taken to King Khaled and Prince Louis Rwagasore hospitals. Health authorities are concerned about the disease spreading among communities with inadequate hygiene and sanitation.
A patient receiving treatment at King Khaled Hospital for another illness said new cholera patients had continued to arrive since the previous week.
“Things are worrying. Since last week, they have continued receiving patients. Not a day passes without a new case being reported,” the patient told SOS Médias Burundi.
The patient also raised concerns about delays in medical assessment and the time it takes to separate suspected cholera patients from others at the hospital.
Those being treated for other conditions fear they could become infected, the patient said, urging health workers to assess and treat suspected cases promptly.
Residents in parts of Gihosha, northern Bujumbura and surrounding areas say they struggle to find safe drinking water.
The shortages have heightened fears that the disease could spread further.
Cholera is an intestinal infection that can spread through water or food contaminated with the bacteria that cause it. It can lead to severe watery diarrhoea and vomiting, causing dangerous fluid loss. Without prompt treatment, it can be fatal.
Cases have also been reported elsewhere in Burundi. In Kizuka and Gatete, in Rumonge District, Burunga Province, SOS Médias Burundi reported cases during one week in late October.
Its figures cite 10 cases, seven patients still in hospital, one person who died at home and three who had recovered.
Those outcomes add up to 11, so the reported total requires clarification.
The outbreak is raising concern in areas where access to clean water remains limited. Poor sanitation, open defecation and contamination of water sources can help spread the infection.
