DR Congo: Democratic Republic of Congo: Cholera Epidemic 2026 - DREF Operation (MDRCD049)

AI Summary

A cholera epidemic is expanding rapidly across the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2026, with 1,094 suspected cases and 26 deaths reported in epidemiological week 7 alone across 13 provinces and 84 health zones. The high number of community deaths outside health facilities signals severe access-to-care challenges. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has launched a DREF emergency operation in response.

Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Please refer to the attached file. Description of the Event Date of event 22-02-2026 What happened, where and when? A cholera epidemic is currently ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with a geographical expansion and a recent increase in the number of reported cases and deaths during epidemiological week 7 of 2026 (EW7_2026) compared with previous years, epidemiological week 7 of 2026, 1,094 suspected cases and 26 deaths had been reported, including 6 deaths in health facilities and 20 community deaths, representing an overall case fatality rate of approximately 1%. The epidemic shows an increasing trend in case reporting compared with certain previous weeks, with a similar number of cases but a higher number of deaths than in 2024 and 2025. This situation indicates a concerning trend in terms of disease severity and access to healthcare services. The high number of community deaths (occurring outside health facilities) is particularly alarming and suggests difficulties in accessing healthcare services, delays in seeking care, or late case management. Currently, the epidemic affects a large part of the country. By epidemiological week 7 of 2026, 13 provinces and 84 health zones had reported at least one suspected cholera case. The most affected provinces include: Kinshasa, South Kivu ,Tanganyika ,Haut-Katanga , Haut-Lomami , North Kivu Lualaba. Other provinces, although less affected, have also reported cases and sometimes deaths, including: Mai-Ndombe , Sankuru , Tshopo , Équateur , Maniema and Kongo Central. This distribution highlights a multi-focal epidemic, with major hotspots in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country, as well as in Kinshasa, while also spreading to provinces historically less affected by cholera such as Mai-Ndombe, Équateur, and Kongo Central.