24 dead in cholera outbreak in Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) has recorded 24 deaths following a cholera outbreak, according to the country"s Minister of Health and Population Pierre Somse, cited by Report.

A total of 197 cases have been confirmed so far, with a reported mortality rate of 12.2%, the minister said in a televised statement. Patients are currently receiving medical treatment.

The outbreak is concentrated in the southwest of the country, particularly in the Bimbo and Mbaïki districts. The first case was detected on June 14.

The World Health Organization says cholera outbreaks have been recorded in 14 African countries. The largest outbreak is currently in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which borders CAR, where 21,000 cases and 726 deaths have been recorded since the beginning of 2026, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Cholera is a severe infectious disease caused by bacteria transmitted through contaminated food or water.