Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s public health system is under renewed pressure as the country records a fresh spike in several communicable diseases, with malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections dominating the week’s top health concerns, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
In the latest Weekly Disease Surveillance Report covering the week ending May 25, authorities logged 6,768 malaria infections nationwide.
Mashonaland Central province contributed nearly half the total with 3,003 cases, while Mashonaland West followed with 1,107 cases.
Alarmingly, young children under five years of age accounted for 13 percent (847) of all infections, highlighting the vulnerability of this age group.
The mosquito-borne disease claimed 18 lives during the week, with fatalities reported from Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare (4 deaths), Buhera in Mashonaland East (1), and Mwenezi in Masvingo Province (2).
These latest figures push the cumulative malaria toll for 2025 to a sobering 89,708 infections and 293 deaths.
At the same time, diarrhoeal diseases continued to affect thousands, with 4,356 new cases and two deaths reported. Children under five again bore the brunt, accounting for nearly 40 percent (1,703) of cases.
The deaths were reported at Sally Mugabe Hospital and in Mwenezi, already grappling with malaria-related deaths. High case numbers were noted in Mashonaland West (766) and Manicaland (710) provinces.
To date, Zimbabwe has recorded 142,814 diarrhoea cases and 64 deaths this year.
While influenza-like illnesses did not result in any fatalities, the country still registered 5,861 new suspected cases, underscoring a persistent trend.
The worst-hit provinces were Mashonaland West, with 2,048 cases, and Manicaland, which recorded 1,758.
The running total of suspected influenza cases in 2025 has now surpassed 96,000.
Animal-related injuries also remained a pressing concern. Dog bite incidents reached 492 cases in the week under review.
Though no deaths were recorded, health officials expressed concern over the vaccination status of the dogs involved: 23 percent were confirmed unvaccinated, and 60 percent had unknown immunisation histories. The provinces of Manicaland, Masvingo, and Midlands each registered more than 75 cases, contributing to a year-to-date total of 13,040 dog bite cases.
Meanwhile, measles and anthrax continued to simmer at lower levels. There were 16 suspected measles cases spread across eight provinces, with no related fatalities, while two new anthrax infections emerged in Gokwe North and South, bringing the annual total to 63 confirmed cases—none fatal so far.
The Ministry has reiterated the importance of early detection, robust community education, and preventive healthcare to curtail the spread of these diseases.
New Ziana
