The ongoing cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe started on February 12, 2023. By the end of August, a total of 3,894 suspected cholera cases had been reported. As many affected areas have previously been identified as cholera hotspots, prevention efforts should be strengthened especially in these recurrently affected areas.
The ongoing cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe started on February 12, 2023, in Chegutu town in Mashonaland West Province. The suspected case was confirmed on February 15 th (1) . Cases and deaths started to increase in early May, and this trend continued until the epidemic peaked in early June (2) . As of August 27, 2023, a cumulative total of 3,894 suspected cholera cases with 96 deaths has been reported (CFR 2.5%), with all 10 provinces affected. The three provinces with the highest number of cumulative cases are Harare (1 616), Manicaland (1 534) and Matabeleland South (324), which account for 89% of the total cases (2).
During a 2018 study, the provinces reporting the most cholera cases from 1998 to 2018 were also Harare and Manicaland, which were second and third in cholera burden (respectively) to Mashonaland West Province (3) . Cholera prevention and preparedness efforts should be strengthened especially in these recurrently-affected hotspots.
REFERENCES
- IFRC. Zimbabwe: Cholera outbreak Response - DREF Operation MDRZW021 - Zimbabwe | ReliefWeb [Internet]. 2023 Jun [cited 2023 Sep 24]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/zimbabwe/zimbabwe-cholera-outbreak-response-dref-operation-mdrzw021
- WHO. Weekly Regional Cholera Bulletin: 28 August 2023 - ReliefWeb [Internet]. 2023 Sep [cited 2023 Sep 24]. Available from: https://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/weekly-regional-cholera-bulletin-28-august-2023-data-reported-27-august-2023
- UNICEF. Cholera fact sheet: Zimbabwe [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.plateformecholera.info/zimbabwe-cholera-fact-sheet