South Kivu Province is grappling with a severe public health emergency following the simultaneous resurgence of measles, cholera, and Mpox (monkeypox).
The alarming situation was confirmed on Wednesday, November 5, by the Provincial Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Aimé Alengo Odudu, who described the epidemiological state as “critical and worsening.”
According to official data collected between the 1st and 43rd weeks of 2025, South Kivu has recorded:
- 7,961 measles cases and 164 deaths across 21 health zones — a case fatality rate of 2.06%
- 19,011 Mpox cases and 17 deaths across 34 health zones — a case fatality rate of 0.69%
- 10,900 cholera cases and 75 deaths across 16 health zones — a case fatality rate of 0.69%
New Threat: Polio Emerges
Adding to the crisis, Dr. Alengo announced the confirmation of a new polio outbreak, verified through laboratory testing. The province has now been classified as high-risk, prompting urgent plans for a mass vaccination campaign.
However, implementing health interventions remains a major challenge. “The big challenge is care. There is a real problem with the availability of medicines, especially for children under five. Even organizing response efforts is becoming difficult in the current context,” Dr. Alengo lamented.
Many parts of South Kivu, including Bukavu City, are under the control of M23-AFC rebels, complicating access for health workers and limiting the delivery of medical supplies.
Urgent Appeal for Support
In response to the escalating crisis, provincial authorities have issued an urgent call to humanitarian and technical partners to:
- Strengthen epidemic response capacities,
- Supply health facilities with essential medicines, and
- Protect vulnerable populations, particularly children.
The unfolding situation in South Kivu underscores the deepening health challenges facing conflict-affected regions, where insecurity, population displacement, and resource shortages continue to hinder lifesaving interventions.
