Written by: Badr Ahmed

The Central African Republic has officially declared a cholera outbreak, after recording 24 deaths and 197 confirmed cases, in the latest wave of the disease that threatens areas with poor water and sanitation services.

Central African Republic declares cholera outbreak

The Central African Republic’s health minister, Pierre Somsi, said in a statement issued Friday evening that the health ministry confirmed on June 26, 2026, a cholera outbreak in the health districts of Bimbo and Mbaïki, located southwest of the capital Bangui, noting that health authorities had begun implementing an emergency plan to limit the spread of the disease.

The minister explained that the government has already taken a series of preventive measures within the affected areas, along with strengthening health procedures in neighboring cities and regions, with the aim of preventing transmission of infection and containing outbreak hotspots as quickly as possible.

Cholera is an acute bacterial disease transmitted through the consumption of contaminated water or food. It causes severe diarrhea and rapid dehydration, which can lead to death if the infected person does not receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

Despite the success of many countries in reducing the spread of the disease thanks to improved water and sanitation networks, cholera remains a major threat in poor countries with limited access to clean water and basic health services.

The Minister of Health confirmed that the competent authorities are continuing their investigations to determine the main source of the outbreak, explaining that this wave is the fifth of its kind that the Central African Republic has witnessed in recent years, which reflects the continued health challenges facing the country.

Somse stressed that the government is fully mobilized to confront the crisis, calling on citizens to adhere to health instructions, use clean water, be sure to wash their hands regularly, and go to the nearest health center as soon as symptoms of the disease appear.

The announcement of the cholera outbreak comes at a time when the Central African Republic has raised its health alert level in anticipation of the possible transmission of the Ebola virus from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, further straining the country's health sector and raising fears of worsening epidemic conditions in the region.