Cholera spreading rapidly in Zambia, kills 26

GENEVA: The current cholera outbreak in Zambia is centred around Lusaka, the country’s capital, and shows no signs of slowing down, says the World Health Organisation, (WHO) which is pulling out all the stops to fight the disease.

The government declared the outbreak on October 6 after two suspected cases reported to a clinic two days earlier, said WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier on January 9.

Up to January 8, 2523 cases and 26 deaths had been officially reported, and almost all the cases are in Lusaka.

“After an initial downward trend, cholera cases started intensifying in early November and health authorities reached out to WHO for more support, including help with an immediate request for initially 2 million doses of oral cholera vaccines (OCV) from the global stockpile,” said Lindmeier.

“Given the large amounts that have been requested, doses have been scheduled to arrive in batches starting from January 7 until January 9,” according to the WHO spokesperson.

WHO helped the Zambian government put together the plan for supporting the OCV campaign and trained about 500 health and community workers in how to administer the vaccine.

The organisation provided four cholera kits which contain oral rehydration solution, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, diagnostic kits, body bags and gloves.

WHO procured two large tents, each with a 30-bed capacity, to expand cholera treatment services.

“Clean water, proper sanitation and good hand hygiene are fundamental to controlling and preventing cholera,” said Lindmeier.

Zambia last week shut three of South African retailer Shoprite’s Hungry Lion fast-food outlets after they showed positive results for the bacterium that causes cholera.

President Edgar Lungu on December 30 directed the military to help combat the spread of the water-borne disease.

It has also banned street vending and public gatherings as well as delayed the start of the new school term.

“WHO is supporting the government’s efforts to improve sanitation and other fundamentals and believes it is better to focus on that instead of banning some key public activities,” said Lindmeier. – Independent Foreign Service