BUJUMBURA, Jan 17 (AFP) - A cholera outbreak has hit a slum in the northern part of Burundi's capital, killing four people in the past week, health officials said Monday.
In addition to the deaths, at least 64 people have been diagnosed with the deadly disease since January 13, Mathias Karimwabo, the local official in charge of Bujumbura's Kamenge district, told AFP.
An official with Burundi's health ministry, Georges Nsengiyunva, confirmed an outbreak of cholera in Kamenge and said steps were being to prevent it from spreading although some cases had already been reported outside the district.
"The epidemic is likely to spread, and some cases have already been reported, but it is Kamenge district that has been hit hardest up until now," Nsengiyunva said.
Karimwabo blamed the outbreak of the waterborne disease, which causes serious diarrhoea and vomiting and can be fatal if not properly treated, on poor sanitation and stagnant water in the Kavumu section of Kamenge district.
01/17/2005 18:05 GMT - AFP