2023–2024 Zimbabwe cholera outbreak

2023–2024 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak
Diseasecholera
Sourcevibrio cholerae
LocationZimbabwe
Index caseMalawi
Date12 February 2023
Type
diarrhoeal disease
Confirmed casesnot set
Suspected cases‡>20,000 [1]
Hospitalised cases109 (outdated)
Deaths
370
Fatality rate<1.85%
‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

A cholera outbreak started in Buhera District, Manicaland, Zimbabwe. The outbreak is thought to have started on 12 February 2023.[2][3] As of now it has a geographic coverage of 45 out of 62 districts.

Timeline

First cholera case was reported in Buhera District in Manicaland on the 12 February, 2023. The Ministry of Health and Child Care reported that there were 152 recorded cases and 12 deaths reported in August 2023 alone in Buhera. It was also reported in Hwedza District in Mashonaland East.[3] As of 5 October 2023, the suspected cases and deaths were at 4609 and 100 respectively, confirmed at 935 cases while death toll at 30.[4] On the 17 November 2023, the central government announced a state of emergency in Harare metropolitan.[5] It now have a geographic coverage of 45 out of 62 districts.

Response

In response to the outbreak, the Zimbabwean government imposed restrictions on gatherings; funeral attendees were limited to 50 people, and no food could be served. People were advised to avoid physical contact and social events, as well as to maintain proper hygiene.[6][7] Zimbabwe banned large gatherings in October in response to outbreak.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.afro.who.int/countries/zimbabwe/news/ramping-response-curb-zimbabwe-cholera-outbreak
  2. ^ "Allocation summary | CERF". cerf.un.org. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. ^ a b "Measures to contain Buhera cholera outbreak bear fruit". The Herald. Archived from the original on 2023-09-27. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  4. ^ "40 new cholera cases reported". The Herald. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  5. ^ "Zimbabwe capital declares emergency over cholera". BBC News. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  6. ^ Mutsaka, Farai (2023-10-05). "Zimbabwe announces 100 suspected cholera deaths and imposes restrictions on gatherings". AP News. Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  7. ^ Chingono, Nyasha (2023-10-12). "Zimbabwe bans large gatherings as threat of cholera outbreak grows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  8. ^ "Zimbabwe bans large gatherings as threat of cholera outbreak grows | Global development | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2023-10-23.