Health ministry confirms 1669 cases of cholera in Lusaka Province, with 46 deaths

The Ministry of Health says at least 1,669 cases of Cholera have been recorded with 46 deaths in Lusaka Province.

The Ministry said 69 patients were also discharged on Tuesday, 19, December, 2023, bringing the total number of people who had been discharged in the province to 1,563.

On Tuesday, December, 19, 2023, the Ministry indicated that the Province recorded 74 cases and 4 deaths with 110 still in admission.

It expressed concern that the country had seen a rise in cholera cases since its outbreak in January this year, with at least 64 deaths,!confirmed from 52 as earlier reported.

The Ministry said the country had recorded a cumulative number of 2,552 cases since January from 2,270 which were earlier reported by Zambia Monitor.

It said that the case fatality ratio for the disease now stood at 2.5 percent with Eastern Province now contributing to the deaths by 1 person as of Tuesday, 19, 2023.

Meanwhile, the Lusaka City Council has embarked on a robust cholera response exercise in all hotspot areas across the city.

LCC Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba said the Local Authority was working round the clock to ensure that the further spread of the cholera in hotspot areas of Kanyama, Chawama, George and Matero compounds are curbed.

“The exercise which is being spearheaded by the Local Authority’s Department of Public Health includes the disinfection of markets and bus stations, the distribution of cholerine and the collection of garbage including historical waste,” she stated

Mwamba said a team of Public Health Educators had since been dispatched to the affected areas in a bid to engage and educate the masses on prevention measures of cholera and other waterborne diseases.

“As a Local Authority, we wish to take this opportunity to encourage our traders to conduct business in designated areas as doing so will play a crucial role in reducing solid waste in the Central Business District (CBD),” she emphasized.

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