Burundi reports cholera resurgence as new cases rise

Burundian Minister of Public Health Lydwine Baradahana on Thursday announced a resurgence of cholera, with 18 new cases recorded on Wednesday alone, despite recent progress in combating the disease.



Speaking at a press briefing in the commercial capital Bujumbura on the country's cholera situation, which also included the handover of medical supplies donated by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Baradahana described the situation as "worrying."



"Today, two cholera treatment centers host 34 patients. Just yesterday (Wednesday), we had 18 patients admitted to the Prince Regent Charles Hospital (which has a cholera treatment center)," she said, adding that "this is the first time since the beginning of this year (2026) that we've had a situation like this."



She attributed the resurgence partly to poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitation measures in some communities. The minister also highlighted the financial burden of the outbreak, saying government spending on cholera response reached three billion Burundian francs (nearly 1 million U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2026.