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Zimbabwe cholera death toll soars Cholera moves to rural Zimbabwe
(about 3 hours later)
More than 2,700 people have now died in Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic - a 20% rise in a week, the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) says. The main impact of Zimbabwe's cholera epidemic has shifted from urban areas to rural areas, making its containment much harder, a medical charity says.
Nearly 50,000 people have been infected with the preventable disease, WHO says. Medecins Sans Frontieres told the BBC the fatality rate was increasing for those in remote areas.
The UN says at least 2,755 people have now died - a 20% rise in a week.
The start of the rainy season could lead to even more infections, as water sources become contaminated, aid workers have warned.The start of the rainy season could lead to even more infections, as water sources become contaminated, aid workers have warned.
President Robert Mugabe has faced increasing criticism for his country's dire economic and humanitarian plight. Whenever someone dies they usually bring the body to the village of origin for funeral and burial and many times, unfortunately, bodies are not disinfected Manuel Lopez, MSF President Robert Mugabe has faced increasing criticism over his country's dire economic and humanitarian plight.
Mr Mugabe's allies have accused Western countries of trying to use the cholera outbreak as an excuse to topple him.Mr Mugabe's allies have accused Western countries of trying to use the cholera outbreak as an excuse to topple him.
Cholera cases have been reported in all 10 of Zimbabwe's provinces, the WHO says, and aid agency World Vision has reported new outbreaks of the preventable disease in rural areas.
HEALTH CRISIS Cholera: 2,755 died since AugustAnthrax: Eight deaths since NovemberHIV/Aids: Estimated 400 deaths a dayMaternal mortality: Risen from 168 per 100,000 in 1990 to 1,100 in 2005 "Rapid deterioration of Zimbabwe's health system, lack of adequate water supply and lack of capacity to dispose of solid waste and repair sewer blockages have all been the main drivers of the current spread of cholera," said World Vision in a statement.
"New outbreaks are cropping up in rural areas as the rainy season progresses and people move from the towns back to their rural home areas."
A week ago, the WHO said 2,200 people had died from cholera in Zimbabwe since August 2008.A week ago, the WHO said 2,200 people had died from cholera in Zimbabwe since August 2008.
The disease has also spread to neighbouring South Africa.The disease has also spread to neighbouring South Africa.
Transport
MSF Zimbabwe representative Manuel Lopez said that small villages off the main roads were now being affected following the Christmas holidays, when urban residents went home.
Funerals of cholera victims had also seen the infection spread out of the cities.
HEALTH CRISIS Cholera: 2,755 died since AugustAnthrax: Eight deaths since NovemberHIV/Aids: Estimated 400 deaths a dayMaternal mortality: Risen from 168 per 100,000 in 1990 to 1,100 in 2005 "Traditionally in Zimbabwe whenever someone dies they usually bring the body to the village of origin for funeral and burial and many times, unfortunately, bodies are not disinfected," he told the BBC News website.
He added that the lack of awareness and the difficulty of getting to clinics meant that those dying of such an easily treatable disease was growing.
"Many times they don't have the transport means to the clinics because transport is one of the biggest challenges in the country.
"They don't have vehicles as well as they did some years ago and on top of that it has become very very expensive for people."
In many urban areas, like Harare, cases are actually decreasing, he said.
Cholera cases have been reported in all 10 of Zimbabwe's provinces and nearly 50,000 people have been infected with the preventable disease, the UN says.
African pressure?African pressure?
The latest WHO figures were released as campaign group Human Rights Watch called on African leaders to put pressure on Mr Mugabe to end Zimbabwe's suffering during an African Union summit in Ethiopia next week.The latest WHO figures were released as campaign group Human Rights Watch called on African leaders to put pressure on Mr Mugabe to end Zimbabwe's suffering during an African Union summit in Ethiopia next week.
The organisation accuses Zimbabwe's government of leaving five million people dependent on food aid and most of the population without access to health care.The organisation accuses Zimbabwe's government of leaving five million people dependent on food aid and most of the population without access to health care.
South Africa says it will host a regional summit next week - the latest attempt to broker a power-sharing agreement between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.South Africa says it will host a regional summit next week - the latest attempt to broker a power-sharing agreement between Mr Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
The pair met on Monday but failed to make any progress on implementing a deal they agreed in September. They remain divided on the key question of who should control key ministries.The pair met on Monday but failed to make any progress on implementing a deal they agreed in September. They remain divided on the key question of who should control key ministries.
The opposition leader won the first round of last year's presidential election but withdrew from a run-off in June citing state-sponsored violence.The opposition leader won the first round of last year's presidential election but withdrew from a run-off in June citing state-sponsored violence.
Mr Mugabe's supporters blame Zimbabwe's problems on Western sanctions.Mr Mugabe's supporters blame Zimbabwe's problems on Western sanctions.