This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
Published on August 7, 2019, a cholera outbreak in Burundi's main city, Bujumbura, has prompted authorities to take drastic measures.
According to Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa, 126 people have been infected with the acute diarrheal infection, which is caused by ingesting contaminated food or water.
Cholera can be fatal if left untreated, and in severe cases, it can kill within hours.
Mayor Mbonimpa attributed the outbreak to unhygienic conditions in public areas, including bars and restaurants, which lack proper sanitation standards.
As a result, the authorities have closed down establishments operating in markets and near roads that were found to have poor hygiene standards.
Additionally, the use of contaminated lake and river water by city residents has been banned.
The warning comes on the heels of a UN report that revealed a malaria epidemic in the country, with over 1,800 deaths attributed to the disease this year.
