Zambia: Zambian capital placed on cholera alert

09 Octobre 2017

Lusaka, Zambia, October 9 (Infosplusgabon) - The Zambian Ministry of Health has placed the capital city, Lusaka, on high alert following an increase in the number of cholera cases.

The state-run Times of Zambia quoting Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya reported on Monday that more cholera cases had been reported in Lusaka, rising to 11 from nine.

“Lusaka is on cholera alert, we have a confirmed outbreak of cholera in a localised area in Chipata compound, Mazyoa area zone two, so far we have 11 cases that have been attended to and we have six discharged, five are under treatment and they are stable; there are no deaths,” Chilufya said.

“We have two cases confirmed of vibrio cholera in our laboratory and for now we can confirm the outbreak of cholera in a localised area in Lusaka, but we are putting the whole Lusaka on cholera alert. What does that mean? It means that the index of suspicion has gone up,” the Minister added.

He said water sampling would be intensified in Lusaka including enhancing health education and sensitization of the public and that the Ministry had partnered with the World Health Organization, Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company and Lusaka City council.

He also said the response to the cholera-hit areas had been a multi-sectoral one and the National Public Health Institute had already triggered the response and that the institution, on behalf of the Ministry of Health was leading the response measures.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/OLM/GABON 2017

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