Zimbabwean officials have recently announced the end of a cholera outbreak that lasted nearly 18 months. Despite this declaration, public health experts emphasize that the conditions leading to the waterborne illness remain and need urgent intervention.
The outbreak, which started in February of the previous year, has been declared over after no new cases were reported in July, with the last case occurring in June. Throughout the outbreak, there were 34,549 suspected cases and over 700 fatalities.
Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, the health minister of Zimbabwe, commented, “The announcement indicates that our government’s efforts have successfully controlled the cholera outbreak. Nonetheless, there are still ongoing issues that need to be addressed since the bacteria remain present in the community.”
Itai Rusike, the executive director of the Community Working Group on Health, acknowledged the achievement of a cholera-free status but stressed that additional work is necessary.
Rusike highlighted the serious concerns over the illness and the avoidable deaths, pointing out that the lessons from the 2008-2009 cholera crisis seem to have been ignored. He stressed that the severe outbreak revealed the crucial need for enhanced investment in water and sanitation infrastructure.
The 2008-2009 outbreak saw Zimbabwe reporting 98,592 cases and 4,288 deaths, according to official sources.
Dr. Desta Tiruneh, the World Health Organization’s representative in Zimbabwe, explained that the end of the cholera outbreak allows the country to address other health issues. However, he pointed out that the factors contributing to cholera transmission, such as inadequate access to clean water, poor sanitation, and community misconceptions, still persist. He stressed the need to prioritize improving water supply in high-risk areas and to ensure that the government focuses on these communities to prevent future outbreaks.
Doctors Without Borders stated that although eradicating cholera is a major success for Zimbabwe, more can be done to prevent future outbreaks. They stressed the need for a balance between ensuring timely access to cholera vaccines and investing in water sanitation and hygiene infrastructure across urban and rural communities.
MSF, as the organization is also known, was one of the humanitarian groups that partnered with the Zimbabwean government and U.N. agencies to help contain the spread of cholera.
In Harare, individuals were seen wading through piles of uncollected, fly-infested trash, while sewage flowed along the streets due to broken sewer pipes needing repair. In various areas, residents have complained about lacking safe water for drinking and daily chores for several days.
