Zimbabwe: cholera outbreak spreading to Mashonaland East

Zimbabwe is dealing with a cholera outbreak that has killed six people and infected over 300 in six districts. The outbreak was mainly located in Mashonaland Central, but there are now reports of its spreading into Mashonaland East. The government has deployed personnel to the Dindi area in the Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) district to contain the disease. Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora was recently in Mashonaland Central to promise help to artisanal miners, who have been accused of causing the outbreak. Mombeshora vowed to supply water treatment tablets to reduce cases. In an interview, Health and Child Care Deputy Minister Sleiman Kwidini dismissed reports of cholera deaths, saying that the government is working to verify them. He added they are waiting for the arrival of vaccines to start an immunisation campaign in the affected areas. Routine visits have been conducted to provide medicines and enhance preventive measures.