MUTARE- Health authorities have imposed restrictions on the number of
people who can attend funerals in cholera hotspots, after the latest outbreak in
Manicaland claimed 22 lives as of October 02, 2023.
In Manicaland 52 cases have been reported to be under hospital care with
Buhera district alone accounting for 38 people, Chipinge 11, Makoni 1, Mutare
1 and Mutasa 1.
The disease has currently spread to 41 districts across all 10 provinces of the
country, affecting more than 4,500 people.
“As of October 2, 2023, 66 cases are hospitalised at Bikita CTC (5), Chiredzi
(2), Zaka (2) in Masvingo Province, Buhera (38), Chipinge (11), Makoni (1),
Mutare (1), Mutasa (1) in Manicaland Province, Zvimba (1), Mhondoro-Ngezi
(1) in Mashonaland West Province, and BRIDH (3) in Harare Province,” the
Ministry of Healthy said in a statement.
Manicaland Provincial Medical Director, Dr Munyaradzi Mukuzunga said in
response to the crisis, authorities have activated provincial and district cholera
task forces and increased surveillance and contact tracing.
“We have also pre-positioned commodities to cholera hotspots and mobilized
community health workers and leaders to alert health facilities as we continue to
record new cases. There is also continuous water sampling and testing as we
also closely monitor vending activities,” he said.
Health authorities have suspended gatherings at funerals and other events in
several affected districts, to contain the spread of the disease, which is caused
by contaminated water or food.
They have also advised people to limit attendance to a maximum of 50 at such
gatherings.
Mutare City Council confirmed three new cases of cholera in the city, urging
residents to take precautions and avoid alternative water sources such as
boreholes, wells, and streams.
The local authority said all three patients had recently visited Buhera district,
where a cholera outbreak has been ongoing for several weeks.
“Notice is hereby given to all residents and stakeholders that the city has
recorded three cholera cases. These cases have a history of travel to Buhera
district where there has been an outbreak since August 2023. We urge all
residents, customers and stakeholders to practice good hand hygiene to curb the
spread of all infectious diseases,” said the local authority in a statement.
The country's 2008 cholera outbreak, which claimed the lives of more than
4,300 people, was the largest ever recorded in Zimbabwe.
The outbreak was eventually contained with the help of international aid and
humanitarian agencies.
Cholera is an extremely virulent disease that can cause severe acute watery
diarrhoea.
It takes between 12 hours and five days for a person to show symptoms after
ingesting contaminated food or water. Cholera affects both children and adults
and can kill within hours if untreated.
It can be prevented by practicing good hygiene, boiling or treating water before
drinking, and cooking food thoroughly.
