Zimbabwe Cholera SitRep 08/03/2024

HIGHLIGHTS TODAY

• 140 new suspected cholera cases (2) suspected deaths and (1) laboratory confirmed results were reported today. The cases were reported
from, Shamva (27), Chiredzi (19), Sanyati (16), Kuwadzana (12), UMP (11), Bindura (11), Glenview (9), Chitungwiza City (8), Rutsanana (5),
Mutare (4), Chipinge (3) Buhera (2), Mutoko (2), Beitbridge (1), Mazowe (1), Mt Darwin (1), Masvingo (1), Chivi (1), Bikita (1), Budiriro (1),
Zvimba (1), Makonde (1), Hurungwe (1) and Chegutu (1).
• 62 districts have reported cases so far in the country,
• As of 08 March 2024, 131 are cases hospitalized at Chiredzi (7), Bikita (1), Chivi (2), Gutu (1) in Masvingo Province, Buhera (4), Chipinge (5),
Mutare (4), in Manicaland Province, BRIDH (7) Chitungwiza (2) in Harare Province, Bindura (11), Mt Darwin (3), Shamva (14), Mazowe (1) in
Mash Central Province, Sanyati (16), Chegutu (1),Hurungwe (1), Makonde (1) Zvimba (1) in Mash West Province UMP (32), Goromonzi (3)
Mudzi (2) Mutoko (2) Mash East Province, Mberengwa (8), Gokwe-South (3) Midlands Province, Thorngrove (1) in Bulawayo Province and
Beitbridge (1) in Mat South Province.
• Cumulative Tests done: 5 907 RDT done, 2 783 RDT positive (47.1 % positivity) and Culture 5 193 culture done, 2 776 culture positive (53.4 %
positivity).
• 116 New recoveries: National Recovery Rate is at 97 % & cases in-care 131.
• As of today, Zimbabwe has recorded 27 743 suspected cholera cases, 2 776 confirmed cases, 27 030 recoveries,
71 Confirmed deaths and 511 suspected deaths Case Fatality Rate (1.84%).
• Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) started on Monday 29 January 2024 after the launch by The Hon. Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. D.
Mombeshora at Kuwadzana Poly Clinic in Harare. As of 6 March cumulatively 2 121 784 people received OCV. The OCV campaign is
targeted for cholera hotspots in the country.
CASES AND DEATHS DISTRIBUTION BY PROVINCE

Province Cumulative Cumulative RDT+ Cumulative Cumulative Cases Cumulative Cumulative

Suspected for Screening Culture Confirmed Recovered Cases (In-Care) Culture Suspected
Cases (New) (New) (New) (New) Deaths Deaths
(New) (New)
Bulawayo 36(0) 21(0) 9(1) 34(4) 1 0(0) 1(0)
Chitungwiza 2 041(8) 316(0) 54(0) 2 006(6) 2 9(0) 24(0)
Harare 8 874(27) 8(0) 863(0) 8 797(24) 7 4(0) 66(0)
Manicaland 6 235(9) 40(0) 1203(0) 6 061(3) 13 35(0) 126(1)
Mash Cent 3 129(40) 282(0) 139(0) 2 999(36) 29 2(0) 99(1)
Mash East 1 197(13) 576(0) 149(0) 1 149(11) 39 2(0) 7(0)
Mash West 1 605 (20) 1 149(20) 108(0) 1 537(12) 20 3(0) 45(0)
Masvingo 3 087(22) 105(0) 39(0) 2 981(19) 11 11(0) 84(0)
Mat North 279(0) 81(0) 30(0) 273(0) 0 0(0) 6(0)
Mat South 473(1) 103(1) 159(0) 464(1) 1 5(0) 3(0)
Midlands 787(0) 102(0) 23(0) 729(0) 8 0(0) 50(0)
Total 27 743(140) 2 783(21) 2 776(1) 27 030(116) 131 71(0) 511(2)
 CHOLERA LABORATORY TESTS

Province Rapid Rapid Diagnostic Culture Test Done Culture Test Positive
Diagnostic Test Test Positive
Done
Bulawayo 22(0) 21(0) 14(0) 9(1)
Chitungwiza 663(0) 316(0) 141(0) 54(0)
Harare 976(0) 8(0) 974(0) 863(0)
Manicaland 51(0) 40(0) 2 760(0) 1 203(0)
Mash Cent 500(0) 282(0) 146(0) 139(0)
Mash East 679(0) 576(0) 266(0) 149(0)
Mash West 1 160(0) 1 146(20) 203(0) 108(0)
Masvingo 1 073(0) 105(0) 287(0) 39(0)
Mat North 90(0) 81(0) 6(0) 30(0)
Mat South 192(0) 103(1) 354(0) 159(0)
Midlands 500(0) 101(0) 42(0) 23(0)
Total 5 907(0) 2 758(0) 5 193(0) 2 776(1)
 Background
• The first cholera outbreak in the country in 2023 started on the 12th of February 2023
in Chegutu town, Mashonaland West Province.
• To date suspected and confirmed cases have been reported in 62 districts in ALL the
10 provinces of the country since the beginning of 2023.
• As of the 8th of March 2024, a cumulative total of 27 743 suspected cholera cases, 71
laboratory confirmed deaths,511 suspected cholera deaths & two-thousand seven
hundred and five (2 705) laboratory confirmed cases were reported.
• The outbreak has now spread to more than the 17 traditional cholera hotspot districts
of Buhera, Chegutu, Chikomba, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chitungwiza, Chiredzi, Harare,
Gokwe North, Marondera, Mazowe, Shamva, Mutare, Murehwa, Mwenezi, Seke and
Wedza.

Zimbabwe Cholera Suspected Cases Epi-Curve 08/03/2024

400
350
CHOLERA CASES

300
250
200
150
100
50
0

DATES
Key Priority Actions
1. COORDINATION AND LEGISLATION
• The incident management system for cholera response was activated and a cholera outbreak
incident manager appointed at the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) to
coordinate the outbreak response.

• Coordination meetings are being conducted twice weekly .

• The Honorable Minister of Health and Child Care Dr. D. Mombeshora visited cholera camps in Harare
and some locations in Highfield to get first-hand information on some of the key drivers in those areas.
• New CTCs were opened in Old Highfield, Glenview and Kuwadzana to decongest BRIDH and
health workers in these new CTCs were capacitated.

2. CASE MANAGEMENT& INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL

• Assessments of CTCs/CTUs in Harare, Masvingo and Manicaland provinces were conducted.
• On-site trainings were conducted for Harare Province at St Mary’s ,Chitungwiza Central Hospital,
Kuwadzana and Glenview directed towards the identified gaps.
• A national IPC TOT on cholera response was conducted for the ten provinces.
• Plans for on-site trainings for Manicaland and Masvingo are in place.
• Assessments for Midlands, Mash East and Mash Central provinces to be conducted in the coming
week.
• Improvements of space, patient flow and CTC layout has been done for Chitungwiza Central hospital
previous week
• No of Cholera CTCS and ORPs in the districts are being increased to cater for the increasing number of
cholera cases.
• On job training for Case management for health care workers is on going

3. SURVEILLANCE AND LABORATORY

• Community Event Based Surveillance training along the migration corridors were conducted in
Masvingo Bulawayo and Mat South provinces.
• Sensitivity tests show that cholera Ogawa serotype is sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin,
Doxycycline. This is unlike in previous outbreaks where there was resistance to ciprofloxacin
 • Specimens are being collected and sent to laboratories for MCS.
• Districts and facilities on high alert with active surveillance including contact tracing on going.
• Contact tracing and listing being done.

4. RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Health education on cholera prevention and control measures including hygiene promotion is
ongoing in provinces.
• Distribution of IEC material was done at the clinics and the community.
• Risk Behaviour assessment is being conducted and appropriate key messages are being given.
• The Ministry of Health conducted a one-day sensitization meeting in Harare with more than 120
leaders from Zimbabwe Council of Churches, UDACIZA, Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops Conferen ce,
Islamic Community, Dare reVadzimu and ZINATHA to deliberate on their role in the prevention

and control of cholera.

• Health Workers and Community Health Workers sensitized and community awareness is ongoing.
• Cholera messages being aired through local community radios and WhatsApp groups.
• Continuous health education in churches and all other gatherings being done and is ongoing,
• Local authority and influential leaders engaged in the provision of safe water and sanitation facilities.
• Hygiene promoters giving health education to all districts in the provinces.

5. Water Sanitation and Hygiene

• Non-food item (NFI) kits distribution continues in affected areas.
• Water boreholes are being drilled and repaired in (Buhera District 17 drilled, 20 were repaired
whilst 6 were equipped with solar)

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