APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) Zimbabwe health officials continue to be on high alert as the number of suspected cholera cases reaches 7,000 since an outbreak was reported in February.
Latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Child Care published on Sunday show that the cumulative suspected cholera cases over the past nine months were pegged at 6,939 as of November 11, with about 142 people believed to have succumbed to the disease.
“As of November 11, 2023, there were 6,939 suspected cases, 1,191 confirmed cases, 6 652 recoveries, 49 confirmed deaths and 142 suspected deaths, the ministry said in a weekly update.
The first case was reported in Chegutu district in Mashonaland West province on February 12.
“To date, cases have been reported in 10 provinces of the country since the beginning of the outbreak,” the ministry said.
The most affected provinces are Manicaland, Harare, Matabeleland South, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central and Masvingo.
A total of 598 suspected cases, 91 confirmed cases and five confirmed deaths were reported last week alone.
Zimbabwe is prone to regular cholera outbreaks since local authorities are struggling to provide residents with clean drinking water.
This has forced most residents to drink water from unprotected well, thereby exposing themselves to diseases such as cholera.
The latest cases bring the spectre of the country’s worst ever cholera outbreak that claimed over 4,000 lives and affected more than 100,000 individuals.
JN/APA