Since 4 September 2025, the health district of Cibitoke in northwestern Burundi has seen a concerning surge in cholera cases. The treatment centre set up at the Rugombo Health Centre quickly reached full capacity, at times forcing two patients to share a single bed.

In response, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health to strengthen the medical response. The centre’s capacity has been expanded from 13 to 42 beds to accommodate the growing number of patients. However, with admissions continuing to rise, plans for a further expansion are also being considered. MSF is also helping to supply medicines and deploy medical staff, including doctors, nurses, health promotion workers, and hygienists. At the same time, hygiene and sanitation improvement efforts are underway to help contain the spread of the disease.
A critical factor contributing to the outbreak is the shortage of clean drinking water. In Cibitoke, many families have been without running water for months and are forced to rely on contaminated river water.