ZIMBABWE DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CAPITAL OVER CHOLERA OUTBREAK
Written by Tunde Adeyemi on November 17, 2023
Zimbabwe has declared a state of emergency in the capital Harare over a cholera outbreak.
Its health authorities have been struggling to contain the high number of admissions following the outbreak, according to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC).
Citing lack of health workers to manage the cases, as well as lack of supplies to stop the transmission, IFRC says the outbreak has so far killed dozens of people with more than 7,000 suspected cases.
The authorities are now asking for help to contain the spread and provide safe water, saying the aid being received is inadequate.
The city authorities say the outbreak, spreading throughout the city, has invoked memories of a deadly outbreak in 2008, in which thousands died.
Cholera, an acute diarrhea infection is caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
