In a press release published Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned of the “alarming intensity” of the cholera epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to the statement, the DRC has recorded more than 58,000 suspected cases in nine months. This is one of the most serious epidemics in the last ten years, revealing the scale of the health crisis raging in the country.
MSF also notes, 20 of the country’s 26 provinces are now affected. From January to mid-October, more than 1,700 deaths were recorded, with a case fatality rate exceeding 3.0%.
The situation continues to worsen, continuing to spread to new health zones, including provinces previously not endemic for cholera.
Flooding, conflict, displacement, and inadequate sanitation and water supply systems have contributed to fueling large outbreaks. As the rainy season approaches, the situation is likely to deteriorate, increasing the risks of disease transmission and contamination.
“The rapid spread of the epidemic across the country this year is a particular concern for us, especially during the rainy season. We fear new outbreaks if urgent measures are not taken,” warns Dr. Jean-Gilbert Ndong, MSF medical coordinator in the DRC.
In Africa, since the beginning of the year, 280,181 total cases and 6469 deaths have been reported from 23 African Union member states.