title: The Potential Financial Costs of Climate Change on Health of Urban and Rural Citizens: A Case Study of Vibrio cholerae Infections at Bukavu Town, South Kivu Province, Eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cholera epidemics have a recorded history in eastern Congo dating to 1971. A study was conducted to find out the linkage between climate variability/change and cholera outbreak and to assess the related economic cost in the management of cholera in Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study integrates historical data (20 years) on temperature and rainfall with the burden of disease from cholera in South-Kivu province, eastern Congo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses of precipitation and temperatures characteristics in South-Kivu provinces showed that cholera epidemics are closely associated with climatic factors variability. Peaks in Cholera new cases were in synchrony with peaks in rainfalls. Cholera infection cases declined significantly (P<0.05) with the rise in the average temperature. The monthly number of new Cholera cases oscillated between 5 and 450. For every rise of the average temperature by 0.35 °C to 0.75 °C degree Celsius, and for every change in the rainfall variability by 10-19%, it is likely cholera infection risks will increase by 17 to 25%. The medical cost of treatment of Cholera case infection was found to be of US$50 to 250 per capita. The total costs of Cholera attributable to climate change were found to fall in the range of 4 to 8% of the per capita in annual income in Bukavu town.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is likely that high rainfall favor multiplication of the bacteria and contamination of water sources by the bacteria (Vibrio cholerae). The consumption of polluted water, promiscuity, population density and lack of hygiene are determinants favoring spread and infection of the bacteria among human beings living in over-crowded environments.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biological and Environment Studies, National Centre for Research in Natural Sciences, CRSN/Lwiro, D.S.Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo ; Centre of Research for Health Promotion (CRPS), Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Bukavu Institute of Higher Education in Medical Techniques (ISTM-Bukavu), South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo ; Dept. of Academic Affairs, Research, Technologies and Innovation; Université du Cinquantenaire (UNIC/ Lwiro), D.S.Bukavu, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Mb Théodore
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Munyuli
authors.affiliation: Centre of Research for Health Promotion (CRPS), Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Bukavu Institute of Higher Education in Medical Techniques (ISTM-Bukavu), South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo ; Dept. of Public Health, Bukavu Institute of Higher Education in Medical Techniques (ISTM-Bukavu), South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: J-M Mbaka
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kavuvu
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB), Private Bag, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mulinganya
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Bukavu (UCB), Private Bag, South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo ; Dept. of Nursing Sciences, Bukavu Institute of Higher Education in Medical Techniques (ISTM-Bukavu), South-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: G Mulinganya
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bwinja
keywords: Cholera burden; Citizens health; Climate change; Congo; Health systems adaptation; Medical treatment