Republic of Congo Faces Dual Health Threats: Cholera Outbreak Continues Amid Ebola Importation Risk

The Republic of Congo is confronting a dual public‑health crisis. An active cholera outbreak now spans 11 health districts in six departments, with 1,707 confirmed cases and 131 deaths. While the epidemic has receded in some areas, new hotspots are emerging, especially in riverine and hard‑to‑reach districts, and heavy rainfall could worsen transmission and limit access to care. No Ebola cases have yet been reported in the country, but the risk of importation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains high because of intense cross‑border population movements and river transport links. UNICEF is bolstering the government’s response with strengthened surveillance, rapid‑response teams, infection‑prevention measures, WASH interventions, community engagement, and risk communication. Preparations for a large‑scale oral cholera vaccination campaign are underway, and border‑area preparedness is being scaled up to mitigate the Ebola threat.