Zambia capital records 11 cholera cases

By O’Brian Mwiinga

LUSAKA (AA) - Eleven cases of cholera have been recorded so far in Zambian capital Lusaka, the nation's health minister said Sunday.

"The affected compounds are Mazyopa, Kabanana, Chipata and SOS village where the majority of the residents are in informal settlements and depend on boreholes to access water for domestic use, including drinking,” Chitalu Chilufya told journalists in Lusaka.

He said Chipata Level 1 Hospital has recorded the highest cases of Cholera since outbreak was reported on Oct 4.

In his remarks, Chilufya revealed that three cholera quarantine centers have been elected where victims are being treated.

The minister also said there has been no cholera-related death that has been reported yet.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) Global Task Force on Cholera Control country profile for Zambia published in February 2011, an analysis of available rainfall and epidemic data in Lusaka shows a very strong association between rainfall and epidemic outbreaks in the city.

Chilufya said that the health ministry was working with the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) under the office of the vice president to stop the spread of Cholera outside Lusaka.

"A combined team of officers from DMMU and Ministry of Health have been dispatched in affected compounds to ensure that people access clean water for domestic use," he added.