“There Is No Cholera in Norton” Gwinji

THE ministry of health and child care says the reported Cholera case in Norton had actually tested negative contrary to Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa’s warning which he circulated on Social Media claiming one person had tested positive  in the area.

HeathTimes Reporter

In a statement, health and child care secretary, Major General, Dr Gerald Gwinji said the only confirmed cases so far were those recorded in Chegutu and the Norton case had actually tested negative.

“My ministry wishes to give an update on the Cholera outbreak situation in Chegutu Municipality in Mashonaland West Province. I wish to let the nation know that there is no spread of cases to other parts of the country and that this outbreak is confined and contained only in Chegutu Town. The number of cases being reported are on a downward trend with only 4 being reported today.

As of today the 31st of January 2018, a cumulative total number of 94 suspected cases have been recorded since the outbreak started of which six (6) have been laboratory confirmed. The number of deaths recorded since the onset of the outbreak on 18 January remains at four (4) (1 confirmed and 3 probable),” said Dr Gwinji.

He added that the suspected 94 cases of cholera were classified by gender as follows: Males 49 and 45 Females and by age groups as follows: 8 are under the age of five, 15 are between the age of 5 and 14 years and 71 are above 15 years.

“In an effort to control the outbreak my ministry has activated the response teams by setting up a treatment camp at Chinengundu clinic to treat all suspected cases.

“Water treatment chemicals are being distributed, uninterrupted supply of water to the community is being maintained, health education and dissemination of cholera information is being done, control of food vending in undesignated areas is being enforced . Commodities and supplies were mobilized and dispatched to all the districts. All people who have been in contact with the sick are being followed up to see if they are not getting sick including those that attended the funerals. Stakeholders meeting are being done daily to coordinate the cholera control activities.”

He also said the Ministry was on high alert for cholera and all provinces and districts have activated their rapid response teams in the event that a case is reported. Anyone who presents with signs and symptoms resembling cholera such as diarrhoea and vomiting is being investigated.

“An example is a case in Norton reported on the 30th of January who presented with diarrhoea and vomiting where cholera was suspected is being investigated. So far preliminary tests done on this Norton case have come out negative. The case is being monitored due to his history of travel to a funeral in Chegutu.

“May I retariate that the country remains on high alert for cholera and my teams are on the ground.”

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