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The Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) says cholera cases have been contained nationwide, with zero cases recorded in the past two days.
ZNPHI Director for Public Health Policy, Diplomacy and Communication, Dr. Doreen Shempela, said the country had recorded a notable reduction in cholera cases, marking a significant public health achievement.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Friday, Shempela said the cumulative number of cases stood at 612, with nine deaths recorded.
She attributed the reduction to coordinated, evidence-based interventions, including pre-emptive and reactive Oral Cholera Vaccination (OCV) campaigns, strengthened national surveillance, early warning systems, improved case management, and enhanced preparedness of Cholera Treatment Centres (CTCs).
“Current Cholera Situation Reported Cholera cases by district are as follows: Mpulungu (316), Nsama (161), Monze (43), Masaiti (28), Mbala (17), Lusaka (13), Mpika (8), Kitwe (7), Senga Hill (5), Solwezi (3), Kasempa (2), Kabwe (2), Ndola (2), Chongwe (2), Kaputa (1), and Gwembe (1),” Shempela said.
She revealed that as part of prevention efforts, Zambia had administered a total of 1,788,195 doses of OCV in 2025 across priority districts, with Lusaka leading at 724,511 doses, followed by Kitwe with 341,038 and Nakonde with 200,000.
Shempela said Chililabombwe administered 133,525 doses, Mpulungu 128,044, Chienge 99,917, Kabwe 63,346, Mbala 55,400, while Nsama recorded 42,414 doses.
She added that 151,252 doses of OCV had been approved under the International Coordinating Group (ICG) mechanism for a single-dose campaign targeting 151,252 people in Monze District.
“Furthermore, 108,000 doses of ORAVAC oral cholera vaccines, donated by the People’s Republic of China, have been approved to protect 36,000 people (three doses per person) for Lusaka,” she said.
Shempela said the response continued to prioritise prevention, preparedness, and rapid response through scaled-up Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions and routine water quality monitoring.
She noted that the strategy also included risk communication and community engagement to promote prevention and early care-seeking.
Read More: Government moves to contain cholera outbreak in Mpulungu, Mbala
“Enhanced multisectoral coordination under the National Incident Management System (IMS). Further, routine and rapid water quality monitoring is being conducted at sentinel sites in all high-risk districts across priority areas,” Shempela stated.
She explained that this included testing for faecal contamination, residual chlorine levels, and turbidity in both urban and rural hotspots such as markets, schools, and health facilities, particularly in PAMI districts.
Shempela cautioned that while the reduction in cholera cases was encouraging, sustaining the gains would require adequate investment and strong community participation as Zambia moved toward cholera elimination.
“ZNPHI reiterates its call to all citizens to remain vigilant and adhere to the following preventive measures such as to always wash hands with soap and clean water before eating and after using the toilet, and use safe, chlorinated, or boiled water for drinking and household use,” she said.
She urged the public to avoid buying or consuming food from unsafe sources such as street vendors and to seek immediate medical attention if experiencing symptoms such as watery diarrhoea and vomiting.
Shempela assured that the Government remained committed to protecting the health of all citizens through sustained surveillance, rapid response, and collaboration with partners to prevent further cholera outbreaks.
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