BRAZZAVILLE, July 17 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever was declared in Dolisie, a city in the Republic of the Congo, following reports a disease that has killed 12 people, the Congolese government said Monday evening, urging people in the regions not yet in epidemic to put themselves on alert.
The Congolese government has declared Dolisie, capital of the department of Niari, in epidemic of cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever, due to the city's health situation with 1,365 suspected cases, including 12 deaths, according to a press release by the Congolese Health Ministry.
The government did not specify the disease at the origin of this epidemic.
According to the document, the results of laboratory analysis on the disease showed main symptoms such as fever at 39 or 40 degrees Celsius, headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting and general fatigue. Such symptoms are linked with three types of bacteria, namely cholera, shigellosis and typhoid fever.
To date, 16 suspected cases, including two deaths, have been reported in Pointe-Noire, the economic capital, with one probable case deceased in Brazzaville, the Congolese capital, according to the ministry.
Two other suspected cases have been reported in Mouyondzi, of the Bouenza department, read the press release, adding that the samples of suspected cases from Pointe-Noire and Mouyondzi "are being sent" to the National Health Laboratory Public of Brazzaville for analysis.
Faced with this situation during the school holiday season, the Congolese government urged the departments not in epidemic to "put themselves on alert" and called on the public to follow preventive health measures.