Zambia battles cholera

SPIKE: TOTAL OF THOSE AFFECTED REACHES 2 000 IN LUSAKA

SA-linked Hungry Lion restaurants closed after testing positive for bacterium causing the disease.

Zambian authorities have imposed a curfew and are set to impose travel restrictions this week as they battle a cholera outbreak which has claimed more than 50 lives since the beginning of October.

Yesterday afternoon, the Zambian minister of health was expected to announce a spike in suspected cases to 137, up from the 90 recorded on Sunday, bringing the total number of those affected in the capital, Lusaka, to well over 2 000, the Zambian Observer reported.

In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of the country, the government is set to impose movement restrictions, focusing on travel into and out of Lusaka.

A seven-day curfew was imposed on Lusaka’s Kanyama Compound on Sunday, resulting in the lowest number of cases reported there, despite many people defying the curfew, which ordered them to stay indoors from 6pm.

Local authorities ordered the closure of bars the same day, while church services were also cancelled.

Last week, the military was also directed by President Edgar Lungu to help fight the spread of the waterborne disease.

Three of South African retailer Shoprite’s Hungry Lion fast-food restaurants were also forcibly closed last week after testing positive for the bacterium that causes cholera.

Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale confirmed that inspectors had found contaminated food at three Hungry Lion branches in Lusaka. Initially, the outbreak was attributed to contaminated well water.

Since then, however, the spread of the deadly disease has been linked to hygiene conditions in restaurants and the manner in which employees from infected areas were handling food.

The disease originally affected mostly densely populated areas of Lusaka which had poor sanitation. But it has subsequently spread to lower-density areas.

Cholera spreads rapidly and can kill within hours if not treated with oral rehydration, solutions and antibiotics. Symptoms include acute watery diarrhoea.

As of last week, neighbouring Malawi has registered 157 cases and four deaths, its health minister said.

But the fight against cholera has also turned political with Lungu rejecting an offer of help by Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

Hichilema announced on Sunday that his party had resolved to join efforts with the government by contributing materially to the epidemic.

“We have put in place a team that will be working in consultation with government health authorities that are combating this cholera outbreak,” said Hichilema.

“As a party, we have decided to commit ourselves to providing material support in fighting this outbreak which has so far claimed over 50 lives.”

Lungu responded by telling the health ministry to accept help from anyone else but not the UPND. – ANA