Zimbabwe has confirmed new cholera cases in Kariba, a district near the Zambian border, just months after officially declaring the end of an outbreak that killed over 700 people.
The latest outbreak has affected 21 individuals, with one fatality reported so far. Dr. Godfrey Muza, the district’s medical officer, reassured the public that the government is taking swift action to control the spread of the disease. “We have set up cholera treatment centers and oral rehydration stations in the affected villages,” Muza said, highlighting the support from local and international partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and UNICEF, in providing emergency assistance and health education.
In August, the Zimbabwean government had declared the cholera epidemic officially over. The outbreak, which lasted 18 months, had claimed the lives of more than 700 people and infected over 35,000 others. Despite the government’s efforts to control the disease, cholera continues to be a recurring challenge in Zimbabwe, with previous outbreaks stretching back several years. The 2008 epidemic, one of the deadliest, saw over 98,000 cases and claimed more than 4,000 lives.
Health experts continue to warn that Zimbabwe’s chronic lack of access to clean water and sanitation systems remains a key factor in the persistence of cholera outbreaks. Dr. Norman Matara of Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights emphasized, “Cholera is a disease of poverty, typically spreading in communities where access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation is inadequate.”
Matara called for immediate measures, including vaccination campaigns for high-risk communities, and long-term investments in water and sanitation infrastructure to break the cycle of outbreaks. “The government must prioritize addressing the root causes of cholera, especially by ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to clean water and functional sanitation systems,” he added.
Despite efforts to curb the disease, Matara expressed concern that ongoing issues, such as the presence of raw sewage in parts of Harare, may hinder future prevention efforts.
As Zimbabwe continues to battle cholera, the government faces a growing need to address its infrastructure deficits to prevent future outbreaks and protect public health.
