Kampala — At least 60 people have died in a fresh Cholera outbreak in the western district of Bundibugyo and neighbouring Butalinga in the eastern DRC, John B. Thawite and Frank Kibulya report.

Bundibugyo District Director of Health Services, Dr. William Sikyewunda, told a recent meeting of Bundibugyo leaders and their Butalinga counterparts that at least 29 people had died.

Bundibugyo RDC Dr. Erasto Gubare, who chaired the meeting, told the Congolese that the district executive committee had decided to ban the sale of all unprotected cold drinks and food. He urged the Congolese to do the same.

"We need to confront this adui, (Swahili word for enemy) by teaming together," Gubare told the Congo delegation led by Chief Sambili Bamkoka, the Butalinga zonal commissioner.

The meeting heard that the most affected areas in Bundibugyo included the township where three people died of the epidemic last week.

He said Bumate, Bubandi, Harugali and Rwebisengo sub-counties were also badly hit by the epidemic.

Bamkoka reported that 36 people had died. He said 136 cases had recently been registered in his area.

He said lack of good roads, safe and clean drinking water and the poor communication facilities were frustrating the fight against the epidemic.

He appealed to the international non-governmental organisations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres to join the war against the outbreak which he said was spreading to other areas.

Recent press reports said dozens of UPDF soldiers were hit by the epidemic in Boga area, DRC, but were treated.