Cholera Deaths Spike as Zambia Fears Worst Outbreak in Years
Zambia has recruited more volunteers and asked health workers on leave to return to help curb the outbreak.
LUSAKA, Zambia - Zambia's cholera outbreak risks spiraling out of control within two weeks unless urgent action is taken, the country's health minister warned Thursday, writes Kennedy Phiri.
At least 150 people have died from cholera since the outbreak began in October, with over 4,000 cases reported so far.
The government has turned the Heroes Stadium sports arena in Lusaka into a makeshift treatment center and brought health workers out of leave to help contain the crisis.
“We anticipate the situation to get bad. What we have seen is pathetic, issues of sanitation in some parts of Lusaka are bad,” Health Minister Silvia Masebo told reporters after touring affected areas of the capital city.
Earlier Thursday, Education Minister Douglas Syakalima announced the postponement of schools reopening for the first term of 2024, which had been scheduled to start Monday.
The southern African nation is battling its 31st cholera outbreak since 1977 in what health officials are calling the worst outbreak in years.
The disease is spread by contaminated food and water and can kill within hours if not treated.
Zambia has recruited more volunteers and asked health workers on leave to return to help curb the outbreak.
But Masebo said the next two weeks are “critical” and urged coordinated efforts to prevent the situation from worsening.