GOMA, 9 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Health officials say that outbreaks of cholera and measles in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) town of Goma have caused the death of at least five adults and 16 children in the last four weeks.

"We have registered about 200 cases of cholera and 270 cases of measles since July," Dr Alain Kiputsuthe, the chief medical officer for Goma, capital of North Kivu Province, said on Monday.

One of the causes of the cholera outbreak is a shortage of drinking water in Goma over the last month.

"Even the health centres receiving cholera patients do not have enough potable water," he said.

The measles outbreak is occurring because few mothers are vaccinating their child against the disease, he added.

Two free measles treatment centres have been set up in Goma and three centres to treat cholera patients.