Harare (New Ziana)-The government has put in place several measures to contain a cholera outbreak in Buhera, Manicaland province, which has killed 12 people from 152 cumulative cases that have been reported since last month, a Cabinet Minister said on Tuesday.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora told a weekly post Cabinet briefing that at the peak of the outbreak, about 40 cases were reported but with the implementation of preventive measures, cholera incidences have gone down to about 22 recorded on Monday.

The outbreak has been on for about a month since around August 26, 2023.

“Cumulative figures up to yesterday, we had 152 cases and unfortunately we had 12 deaths. That’s why we are so worried, and we want the public to be cautious. Yesterday (Monday) we had about 22 cases, the figures are coming down. There were times when we had 50 to 40 cases but we believe the measures that we have put in place are beginning to bear fruit,” he said.

Mombeshora however said the cause of the diarrhoeal disease is yet to be established.

The Government has instituted a number of measures to contain the reported Buhera incidents such as mobilizing equipment for borehole drilling, advocacy and activation of the District Civil Protection Unit.

Cholera is an intestinal bacterial infection that spreads through ingesting contaminated food or water. It can cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

Outbreaks can rapidly spread in over-crowded communities and in dense living conditions when there is inadequate access to clean water, waste collection, and proper toilets.

New Ziana