By Agencies
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has confirmed an outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe, with one reported death and five confirmed cases.
The announcement was made during the Africa CDC’s weekly virtual press briefing by Professor Yap Boum, Deputy Incident Manager at the agency.
According to Professor Boum, the first case in the current outbreak involves a 38-year-old man who developed symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting, after traveling to Mozambique. This highlights the ongoing challenges posed by cross-border transmission of the disease.
Data from January reveals that there have been 8,212 reported cholera cases across affected countries, with 188 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 1.7%. This rate remains above the target of keeping it below 1%. As of now, 11 African Union member states are dealing with active cholera outbreaks.
Zimbabwe was recently added to the list of affected nations, reporting new cholera cases. A significant portion of the continent’s cholera cases and deaths—around 90% of cases and 85% of deaths—are concentrated in five countries: South Sudan, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, and Nigeria.
“Zimbabwe has reported five cholera cases and one death, resulting in a concerning case fatality rate of 20%. While the small number of cases contributes to the high rate, it highlights the urgency of a swift response,” Professor Boum said.
Zimbabwe has experienced major cholera outbreaks before, notably in 2024 and between 2020 and 2025. Current outbreaks appear to be linked to the movement of affected individuals from Mozambique into Zimbabwe, fueled by factors such as poor sanitation, high population density, cross-border travel, and flooding.
In response, efforts are underway to contain the spread, including the establishment of Cholera Treatment Units, improved community communication, and enhanced surveillance to detect new cases quickly. Authorities are also working to improve access to clean water in the affected areas.
