AN EPIDEMIC THAT HAS INSTALLED FOR THE LONG TERM

Officially declared on July 26, 2025, the epidemic had recorded 434 confirmed cases and 34 deaths a few weeks later. The first outbreaks were mainly on Mbamou Island, in the Talangaï district of Brazzaville, and along the Mossaka-Loukoléla axis, areas where access to drinking water, sanitation infrastructure, and healthcare remains particularly limited.

Nearly a year later, the health situation remains concerning. As of June 14, 2026, the country had recorded 1,531 cases of cholera and 127 deaths, spread across six departments, reflecting the geographic expansion of the epidemic. The Likouala department is now among the main centers of transmission with 316 cases, representing 20.6% of the cases recorded nationally. Its case fatality rate, estimated at 10.1%, testifies to the severity of the situation in this isolated region. Cholera remains a preventable and curable disease. Yet, when it occurs in areas where essential services are lacking, it continues to cause preventable deaths and to permanently weaken populations.

A MOBILIZATION NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

Every barrel of clean water, every awareness campaign, every hygiene practice saves lives.

From the first reports, Congolese authorities launched a response with the support of the United Nations system and several technical and financial partners. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) strengthened community awareness activities to encourage the adoption of essential hygiene measures. “Informing the population, promoting good hygiene practices, and strengthening community mobilization are absolute priorities,” reiterated Agnès Kayitankore, UNFPA Resident Representative.

The World Health Organization (WHO) activated its incident management system as soon as the outbreak was officially declared. Among the first actions taken were: the delivery of seven tons of medicines and cholera kits; the establishment of treatment centers in Mbamou, Mossaka, and Talangaï; the training of 172 healthcare professionals and 250 community health workers; the disinfection of dozens of wells and health facilities; and the provision of logistical support to reach the most remote areas. This initial response phase helped limit the spread of the disease while preparing health facilities to cope with a longer-term crisis.

Cholera is not inevitable. It remains a revealer of persistent inequalities, but can also become a lever for transformation.

OVER $100,000 TO STRENGTHEN THE RESPONSE

On August 11, 2025, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with funding from the Global Fund, delivered a significant shipment of prevention equipment worth over US$101,000 to the Ministry of Health and Population. This assistance included 14,000 items of sanitation and hygiene equipment: sprayers, jerrycans, bleach, boots, protective gloves, garbage bags, buckets, and various other materials designed to limit the spread of Vibrio cholerae, the bacterium that causes cholera. This intervention was part of a coordinated effort with the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the entire United Nations system.

LIKOUALA, NEW EPICENTER OF THE RESPONSE

Today, one of the main challenges lies in the Likouala department, where many localities remain accessible only by river. In Mombenzele, travel is primarily by dugout canoe on the Ubangi River. This isolation significantly complicates access to healthcare, drinking water, and sanitation facilities. In response to this situation, the Ministry of Health, with support from the WHO, has strengthened healthcare capacity in several health districts.

One of the major advances was the creation of a Cholera Treatment Unit (CTU) in Mombenzele. Compliant with international standards, this facility now ensures rapid and safe patient care while limiting the risk of transmission within communities.

Because fighting cholera is not just about interrupting a chain of transmission: it is about building a more equitable, more resilient health system that is better prepared for the health challenges of tomorrow.

THE INITIAL RESULTS APPEAR ENCOURAGING.

Between May 31 and June 14, 2026, while the number of cases in Likouala increased from 259 to 316, the number of deaths rose by only three, resulting in a decrease in the case fatality rate from 11.2% to 10.1%. In the Impfondo health district, no deaths were recorded among the new cases reported during this period, suggesting that earlier intervention significantly reduces cholera-related mortality. Simultaneously, the WHO ensured the regular supply of essential medicines, medical equipment, and consumables to health facilities for patient care.

BEYOND THE EMERGENCY, STRENGTHENING THE HEALTH SYSTEM SUSTAINABLY

This crisis serves as a reminder that cholera is not just an infectious disease. It is also a symptom of deep social and territorial inequalities. Each outbreak reveals the same weaknesses: insufficient access to clean water, inadequate sanitation systems, limited health infrastructure, and difficulties accessing healthcare in rural, island, and forested areas.

Emergency measures—treatment centers, disinfection of water sources, epidemiological surveillance, awareness campaigns, and distribution of preventative materials—remain essential. However, they cannot produce lasting effects without massive investments in water infrastructure, sanitation, human resources in healthcare, and surveillance systems.

MAKING CHOLERA A CATALYST FOR REFORMS

The current epidemic is a true test for the Republic of Congo's public health policy. Every well drilled for clean water, every strengthened health center, every trained community health worker, and every awareness campaign represents an investment in national health security. Cholera is not inevitable.

It remains a stark reminder of persistent inequalities, but it can also become a catalyst for transformation. Turning this crisis into an opportunity requires sustained investment in prevention, improving universal access to clean water and sanitation, strengthening emergency response capacities, and bringing health services closer to the most isolated populations. Because fighting cholera is not just about breaking a chain of transmission: it's about building a more equitable, more resilient health system, better prepared for the health challenges of tomorrow.