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| Cholera outbreak strikes Zimbabwe | Cholera outbreak strikes Zimbabwe |
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| Nearly 300 people have died in Zimbabwe in recent weeks in a cholera outbreak which has hit about 6,000 people, the World Health Organization reports. | Nearly 300 people have died in Zimbabwe in recent weeks in a cholera outbreak which has hit about 6,000 people, the World Health Organization reports. |
| The UN body predicted the water-borne disease would continue to spread because of poor sanitation in the impoverished country's urban areas. | The UN body predicted the water-borne disease would continue to spread because of poor sanitation in the impoverished country's urban areas. |
| Many hospitals have shut down and most towns suffer from poor water supply, broken sewers and uncollected waste. | Many hospitals have shut down and most towns suffer from poor water supply, broken sewers and uncollected waste. |
| An outbreak of cholera on this scale is rare in Zimbabwe, correspondents say. | An outbreak of cholera on this scale is rare in Zimbabwe, correspondents say. |
| The outbreak is likely to continue as the water and sanitation situation is worsening WHO statement Harare's hospitals die | The outbreak is likely to continue as the water and sanitation situation is worsening WHO statement Harare's hospitals die |
| While the disease is endemic in Zimbabwe, it seems this will be the worst outbreak since 2000, Michel Van Herp of the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) told the BBC. | |
| The WHO said that tackling the problem would be difficult because of the local shortage of drugs, medical supplies and health professionals, and the start of the rainy season was "also of concern". | The WHO said that tackling the problem would be difficult because of the local shortage of drugs, medical supplies and health professionals, and the start of the rainy season was "also of concern". |
| "The outbreak is likely to continue as the water and sanitation situation is worsening, with severe shortages of potable water, sewage and waste disposal problems reported in most of the populated areas," a WHO statement said. | "The outbreak is likely to continue as the water and sanitation situation is worsening, with severe shortages of potable water, sewage and waste disposal problems reported in most of the populated areas," a WHO statement said. |
| In Geneva, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs specified that cholera had spread to all of Zimbabwe's provinces. | In Geneva, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs specified that cholera had spread to all of Zimbabwe's provinces. |
| It and the WHO put the total number of suspected cholera as of 18 November at 6,072 with 294 deaths. | It and the WHO put the total number of suspected cholera as of 18 November at 6,072 with 294 deaths. |
| 'Unprecedented' | 'Unprecedented' |
| Zimbabwe's own government has reported fewer deaths, putting the figure at 90, but Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said this week that his ministry was "battling to control unprecedented... outbreaks". | Zimbabwe's own government has reported fewer deaths, putting the figure at 90, but Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said this week that his ministry was "battling to control unprecedented... outbreaks". |
| CHOLERA An intestinal infection caused by bacteriaIs often linked to contaminated supplies of drinking waterCan spread quickly in areas where there is poor sanitationRarely spread by person-to-person contactMost people infected do not actually get ill | CHOLERA An intestinal infection caused by bacteriaIs often linked to contaminated supplies of drinking waterCan spread quickly in areas where there is poor sanitationRarely spread by person-to-person contactMost people infected do not actually get ill |
| He identified Budiriro, a suburb of the capital Harare, as "the epicentre of the disease", adding that the current wave of cholera had begun in September in Chitungwiza, a satellite town south of Harare. | |
| Admitting the situation in government hospitals was "bad", he told the Herald newspaper he hoped food would soon be made available under the Reserve Bank's programme to ensure Zimbabweans had basic commodities. | Admitting the situation in government hospitals was "bad", he told the Herald newspaper he hoped food would soon be made available under the Reserve Bank's programme to ensure Zimbabweans had basic commodities. |
| The country's Association of Doctors for Human Rights highlighted the dire state of a health service once widely admired in Africa. | The country's Association of Doctors for Human Rights highlighted the dire state of a health service once widely admired in Africa. |
| "Our health delivery system, previously the envy of many developing countries, is now teetering on the verge of virtual collapse," it said. | "Our health delivery system, previously the envy of many developing countries, is now teetering on the verge of virtual collapse," it said. |
| "Sick people in need of medical attention are being turned away from Zimbabwe's hospitals and clinics." | "Sick people in need of medical attention are being turned away from Zimbabwe's hospitals and clinics." |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this outbreak, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by this outbreak, or have you seen or heard anything? Send your comments or pictures using the form below. |