A cholera outbreak has struck Tanganyika Province, with over 100 cases recorded in the Nyemba and Kalemie health zones since the beginning of this week, according to provincial health authorities. The outbreak has already claimed two lives, raising serious public health concerns.
The alarming situation was officially confirmed on Saturday, May 3 by Dr. Wilma Lwabola, Head of Information and Communications at the Provincial Health Division of Tanganyika.
“Our province has experienced a problem of drinking water failure for about seven days,” said Dr. Lwabola. “This disruption is an aggravating factor for the cholera epidemic in our region, which is endemo-epidemic—especially in Kalemie and Nyemba.”
Due to the ongoing REGIDESO water supply failure, residents have resorted to unsafe water sources, including Lake Tanganyika and the Lukuga River, where water is untreated and unchlorinated. This shift has significantly accelerated the transmission of the disease, especially in densely populated zones.
The outbreak, which began on April 29, is spreading rapidly. According to Dr. Lwabola:
Monday: 79 new cases recorded in a single day
Tuesday: 39 additional cases
Saturday morning: 18 new cases reported
The total number of cases has now surpassed 100, and authorities warn the situation could worsen without immediate intervention.
Health Authorities Call for Urgent Action
Health officials are urging the restoration of safe drinking water as a top priority. Efforts to intensify water chlorination, public education campaigns, and medical response are being scaled up in the affected areas.
“We are dealing with a permanent cholera risk, but this outbreak shows how quickly the situation can escalate due to infrastructure failures,” said Dr. Lwabola.
Tanganyika Province has long been classified as a cholera-endemic region, making prevention and preparedness essential components of public health strategy.
