The number of death from Zambia’s cholera out break has risen to almost 700 by Saturday last week.
This is said to be the largest number recorded ever in the country.
The out break began in the capital, Lusaka, in October and has since spread in almost all Zambia’s provinces, infecting more 19,000 people.
According to the research made, cholera is easily treated with re hydration – but without the proper care, a person can die in a few hours.
The disease is caused by contaminated water, so access to clean drinking water is vital to stopping it spreading further.
Here are some of the symptoms one might experience in case he or she is cholera positive; profuse watery diarrhea, sometimes described as rice-water stools, Vomiting, Thirsty, leg cramps and restlessness or irritability.
In January, the African Centre for Disease Control Support said a total of 11,304 cases and 448 deaths have been reported from 47 districts in nine Provinces, and of the total deaths reported, 199 were health facility deaths, while 249 were community deaths.
The cholera outbreak in Zambia began in October 2023 following the detection of clusters of cases from Lusaka (Matero and Kanyama suburbs, currently known as the epicentre).
Since then, the outbreak has spread to nine of the ten Provinces, with a marked increase in transmission observed between mid-December 2023 and January 2024.
Cholera can only be controlled by educating people on how to be vigilant, ensuring water Sanitation and hygiene, social Mobilisation, treatment and oral cholera vaccines.
Cholera can only be passed through, eating or drinking water contaminated with feces.
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