Breaking news, Burundi: Bujumbura, greetings with shaking hands was suspended due to Cholera pandemic.
The authorities of Bujumbura Province, Burundi’s commercial capital, have banned handshakes as a form of greeting due to the rapid spread of cholera in various parts of the country.
This was announced in a statement issued on Monday, October 6, 2025, by the Governor of Bujumbura Province, Aloys Ndayikengurukiye, outlining various measures taken to combat the disease, which is caused by poor hygiene.
Since September 2025, health authorities, including the humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), have been issuing warnings about the rapid spread of cholera, particularly in the Cibitoke area, where more than 200 people have been hospitalized.
However, health officials and the Burundian government have released conflicting figures. While the government claims that only 1,000 people contracted cholera in 2025, with six deaths, other sources report higher numbers.
In a statement, the Governor of Bujumbura Province said: “Handshakes as a form of greeting are prohibited; a simple greeting of peace is sufficient.”
According to the BBC, Burundi’s Ministry of Health has broadcast public announcements on radio stations urging citizens to take preventive measures against cholera. The Prince Régent Charles Hospital in Bujumbura has recently been overwhelmed by a large number of patients showing symptoms of the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that cholera is caused by a bacterium known as Vibrio cholerae, which primarily affects people who consume contaminated water or food.
Those infected typically experience symptoms such as severe diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and weakness due to loss of water and electrolytes in the body. If not treated promptly, the disease can lead to death within hours.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) estimates that cholera infections across Africa are expected to exceed 300,000 cases, with a fatality rate of about 2.1%.
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