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KINSHASA. — At least 52 people have died out of 1 078 cases of cholera that have been reported since January in Maniema Province, central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the country’s Health Minister Felix Kabange Numbi said on Wednesday.

“This is the first time that Maniema Province has had a cholera outbreak, and that is why it was the responsibility of the central government to make the announcement,” the minister said in Kinshasa.

“The epidemic was caused by shortage of water in the province, something that pushed the residents to start using dirty water,” Kabange explained.

The minister said the government had put in place a multi-disciplinary committee to fight against cholera in the province.

Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food. — Xinhua.