Published Date: 2011-01-27 02:33:38
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Cholera - Zimbabwe (03)
Archive Number: 20110127.217664
CHOLERA - ZIMBABWE (03)
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A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org
Date: Sat 22 Jan 2011
Source: ZimOnline [edited]
http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=6532
Cholera claims 21 lives in 2010: WHO
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At least 21 people died from cholera in 2010 while nearly 1000 others were affected by an outbreak of the disease that started last February [2010], the World Health Organisation said this week [week ending 23 Jan 2011].
According to the UN agency, the deaths were part of the 951 cumulative cholera cases recorded between 4 Feb 2010 and 19 Dec 2010.
"(Some) 951 cumulative cholera cases consisting of 835 suspect cases, 116 laboratory confirmed cases, and 21 deaths had been reported by 19 Dec 2010 to the World Health Organisation through the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare's National Health Information Unit," the WHO said in its latest epidemiological bulletin.
The recorded cases and deaths were however a far cry from the 98 522 cumulative incidents and 4282 fatalities that had been reported during the comparative period in 2009.
Cholera has become a perennial disease in Zimbabwe where the water and sanitation infrastructure has collapsed due to lack of maintenance.
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Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
[Presented here are the total suspect and confirmed cholera cases in Zimbabwe during 2010 and clearly the figures are lower compared to those reported in 2009. This demonstrates investments into measures to minimize transmission of the disease. However a lot more needs to be done to improve the water and sanitation facilities at the community level.
A map showing the administrative regions of Zimbabwe can be accessed
athttp://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/zimbabwe.pdf.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Zimbabwe can be accessed
athttp://healthmap.org/r/017p. - Mod.JFW]