Zambia’s cholera epidemic has already killed 518 people since October, Zambian Health Minister Sylvia Masebo said this Wednesday, leading to the start of the school year being delayed for the second time.
Zambia, which borders Angola, has seen a growing cholera outbreak since October 2023, the worst epidemic of the disease since 2011.
The start of the school year was originally scheduled for January 8, but last week the government pushed it back to January 29 for the first time, with Education Minister Douglas Syakalima announcing this Wednesday due to the rising number of cholera cases. press conference second postponement, now to February 12.
Cholera is an acute form of diarrhea that can be fatal within hours if left untreated and is spread through contaminated water or food.
The total number of deaths since October is 518, including six in the last 24 hours, according to the health minister.
In mid-January, Zambia received its first shipment of more than a million doses of oral cholera vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO).
On Tuesday, Angola set the second alert level out of three possible due to a cholera epidemic in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo) and Zambia.
Health Director Helga Freitas also made a statement at the press conference, according to which no cases of cholera have been reported in Angola.
“The Ministry of Health is placing medical kits along the border and strengthening all borders at the national level,” he concluded.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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