18 November 1999
Disease Outbreak Reported
Cholera, Rwanda. On 25 October, an outbreak was notified by the Chief Medical
Officer of the Ruhengeri health region, where the main hospital had admitted suspect
cholera cases. Two samples were confirmed by laboratory as Vibrio cholerae serotype
Inaba.
On 26 October, a team from the Ministry of Health visited the area to further
investigate and evaluate the situation:
- the first case was recorded on 14 October;
- from 14 to 31 October, a total of 140 cases and 5 deaths were reported in Ruhengeri
health region;
- the communes of Cyabingo, Kigombe and Nyakinama were affected;
- most cases used water from the river Kigombe for domestic purposes and drinking. It was
noted that the latrines in the affected communities were built along the river bank and a
likely source of contamination.
In response to the outbreak the health authorities:
- established a surveillance system (daily notification) in all affected communes to
detect new cases;
- provided oral rehydration salts, intravenous fluids and antibiotics to local health
officers for treating cases;
- disseminated education messages on hygiene through the local health officers;
- distributed chlorine tablets to the population for treating water.
