Cholera outbreak triggers state of emergency in Zimbabwe’s capital

A cholera outbreak has forced Zimbabwe to declare a state of emergency in its capital city, Harare. The outbreak has already resulted in numerous fatalities, with over 7,000 suspected cases reported. The outbreak mirrors the devastating 2008 epidemic that claimed thousands of lives, a grim memory concerning the local authorities. “We have declared a state of emergency because of cholera,” Mayor Ian Makone was quoted as saying by local media according to BBC. Efforts to contain the outbreak and provide clean water have faced significant challenges, prompting authorities to appeal for additional support. According to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), health facilities are overwhelmed due to a shortage of medical personnel and necessary supplies to halt the transmission. Zimbabwe has been grappling with this deadly cholera crisis amidst a severe scarcity of access to clean water. The outbreak’s focal point resides in Kuwadzana, a densely populated suburb in Harare, which accounts for almost half of the reported cases. Cholera, an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, demands prompt treatment with oral rehydration solutions to replace lost fluids and salts due to diarrhoea and vomiting. The current situation bears striking similarities to the 2008 outbreak, which resulted in over 4,000 deaths and incapacitated essential services across the nation. This crisis prompted then President Robert Mugabe to engage in a historic power-sharing agreement with his long-standing rival, Morgan Tsvangirai. In 2018, Zimbabwe declared another state of emergency following 20 deaths and over 2,000 reported cases of typhoid and cholera. “The cholera outbreak has come with vengeance,” remarked the Harare mayor on Thursday, emphasising the severity of the situation. As of Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed 7,398 suspected cases, 50 deaths, and 109 individuals hospitalised. Health officials have taken immediate steps to combat the outbreak, including removing street food vendors and distributing safe water. The IFRC has raised concerns about the rapid spread of the disease, affecting 45 out of 62 districts and all 10 provinces in Zimbabwe. It warns of the likelihood of the outbreak crossing borders. Notably, neighbouring countries such as Malawi, South Africa, and Mozambique have also confronted recurrent cholera outbreaks in the past.