Zimbabwe health officials battle multiple outbreaks
Cholera, anthrax, mumps and malaria
The Zimbabwe Ministry of Health recently put out some new numbers on several outbreaks in the country.
According to the Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the Week for the end of October 2023, we see ongoing outbreaks of cholera, anthrax, mumps and malaria.
Cholera
Zimbabwe recorded 5,964 suspected cholera cases, 1,055 confirmed cases, 5,696 recoveries, 43 Confirmed deaths and 123 suspected deaths as of 29 October 2023.
The cholera outbreak has spread rapidly, affecting 43 districts across Zimbabwe.
The Africa Health Organisation (AHO) is working tirelessly in collaboration with the Zimbabwean government to provide vital technical assistance and supplies, including water purification tablets and oral rehydration salts.
On 31 October 2023, the Cabinet, in light of the outbreak of Cholera laid down additional measures as follows:
a) Continued intensified Risk Communication and Community engagement including involvement of religious and local leadership, intensified school health education on cholera and other diarrheal diseases and utilizing existing media houses and digital platforms for content dissemination is being accelerated;
b) That there will be improved safe water access to communities through rehabilitation of boreholes, and drilling boreholes; and
c) That public health measures will be enforced in all communities reporting cholera cases including restriction of gatherings in all cholera affected areas, and supervision of all burials in all cholera affected areas.
Anthrax
According to the Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the Week Ending 15 October 2023, 18 new anthrax cases and zero deaths were reported this week. The cases were reported from Gokwe South District (12) and Gokwe North District (6) in Midlands Province.
The cumulative figures for anthrax cases are 307 and 0 deaths.
Mumps
In addition, Zimbabwe reported 1,326 new cases of Mumps and 0 zero deaths the week ending October 15.
The cases were reported from Mashonaland East Province (280), Mashonaland Central Province (254), Mashonaland West Province (200), Manicaland Province (150), Masvingo Province (149), Midlands Province (134), Matabeleland North Province (106), Harare Province (27), Matabeleland South Province (21) and Bulawayo Province (5).
The cumulative figures for Mumps cases is 20,492 and no deaths.
Subscribe to Outbreak News TV on YouTube
Malaria
The cumulative malaria cases this year in Zimbabwe has reached 150,745 after 1,076 additional cases were reported the week ending October 15.
Of the reported cases, 147 (13.7%) were from the under five years of age.
In addition, four additional deaths were reported, bringing the cumulative total to 246.