Cholera Cases in Zimbabwe Likely To Touch 60,000: UNICEF

The head of the UN Children's Fund in Zimbabwe told the BBC on Sunday he feared a possible 60,000 cholera cases in the coming weeks.

UNICEF's chief in Harare, Roeland Monasch, said such a surge in infections could bring the number of deaths to around 2,700.

Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine and is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

Zimbabwe says nearly 600 people have already died from the disease but aid agencies fear the toll could be higher.

Monasch told the BBC that aid agencies were doing everything possible to bring down mortality rates, but warned that he believed infection rates would rise sharply in next few weeks.

He said he was particularly concerned about the plight of children.

Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers
Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Typhoid and Paratyphoid Enteric Fevers are discussed.

"Children in Zimbabwe are on the brink, and everyone's focus must now be on their survival," he said.

UNICEF has launched an emergency response programme in Zimbabwe to focus on providing basic services for children, including providing nutritional supplements, and trying to increase access to safe water in the short term.

Public Urged To Stop Shaking Hands To Curb Cholera
Zimbabwe has cut water supplies to the capital Harare, state media said Monday, as the health minister urged the public to stop shaking hands in a desperate bid to curb a deadly cholera epidemic.

Zimbabwean state media on Sunday blamed the cholera outbreak on European sanctions imposed on the regime of President Robert Mugabe.

Source-AFP
SRM

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