YAOUNDE, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Cholera has killed at least 27 people in the Central African Republic over the past two weeks, health officials confirmed Thursday, with a total of 253 cases reported during the period.
Germain Piamale, head of the outbreak response, said 12 cases have been confirmed in laboratories. Of the 27 deaths, 24 occurred in communities before patients could access medical care, while the remaining three were recorded at health facilities.
The outbreak is centered in the Bimbo health district of Ombella-M'Poko Prefecture. Cases have also been reported in the Mbaiki health district in the south, as well as in the Bangui 1, Bangui 2, and Bangui 3 health districts in the capital. Cholera has now spread to five of the country's 35 health districts.
Transmission remains ongoing. On Wednesday, three new patients were admitted to a hospital in Bangui.
Piamale urged the public to help contain the outbreak by drinking safe water and washing hands regularly. ■