Zambia launched a mass cholera vaccination campaign on Wednesday, after a recent outbreak of the disease saw 2,672 cases and 63 deaths since October, World Health Organisation (WHO) official said.
Dr Nathan Bakyaita Zambia’s WHO representative said that enough vaccine to treat one million people has been delivered to the southern African country.
“Cholera is spread through dirty water and poor sanitation as well as contaminated food.
“Zambia is experiencing one of the worst outbreaks of cholera in years.
“With this campaign, we can stop cholera in its tracks and prevent an even more devastating epidemic,” Bakyaita said.
The WHO said it is helping authorities with the vaccination programme.
Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, has been the worst hit with cholera which causes acute diarrhoea and can kill within hours if left untreated.
Earlier on Wednesday, the health authorities said that Zambia has recorded 95 new cholera cases in the last 24 hours, with Lusaka, the country’s capital recording 83 of the cases.
The Ministry of Health said Lusaka recorded 83 new cases while 12 other cases were recorded in other parts of the country.
According to the ministry, cases in the capital cumulatively now stand at 2,755 out of which 2,514 have been successfully treated and discharged.
The cumulative death toll in the city currently stands at 62, while the countrywide death toll stands at 67.
Meanwhile, a multi-sectoral team assembled to handle the cholera epidemic has urged citizens to cooperate in efforts aimed at tackling the epidemic.
“Apart from the oral cholera vaccination which had commenced, our team has increase water points and burying of shallow wells as well as cleaning of markets in order to stop further contamination of food.
“Let us continue to work together until we eradicate this disease completely, medium to long term measures will be undertaken by government in order to achieve this,’’ the statement said. (Xinhua/NAN)
