By Michael Gwarisa
As 2025 began with a surge in cholera cases, particularly in Mazowe’s Glendale area and Kariba, recent developments indicate that the outbreak is now under control due to swift interventions by the government and its partners.
The current cholera outbreak started on November 24, 2024, in Gachegache, Kariba district. Cases have since been reported in the Glendale area of Mazowe district, with sporadic instances in Chiredzi, Chipinge, Bikita, Bindura, Shamva, and Kadoma. However, sustained community transmission did not follow these isolated cases. The number of new daily cases has been steadily declining in the primary hotspot areas of Kariba and Mazowe.
Kariba’s last reported case was on January 7, 2025, while Mazowe recorded just two cases on January 15, 2025.
Speaking to HealthTimes, Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), credited the decline in cases to robust outbreak response and control measures.
These initiatives include activation of Regional Incident Management Systems to provide a systematic framework for cholera outbreak response, rapid response activities, including surveillance and timely detection and management of cases,” said Dr. Maunganidze.
Other key interventions included the provision of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) solutions in affected areas. This encompassed borehole rehabilitation, water quality monitoring, distribution of water purification products, and the construction of ablution facilities.
“We also set up community-level Oral Rehydration Points and cholera treatment centers for isolation and timely treatment of cases. This breaks the chain of transmission. Additionally, we intensified risk communication and community engagement activities to prevent transmission and enhance timely detection and treatment of cases,” he added.
As part of the response, over 10,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine were deployed in Kariba, Harare, and Mazowe during a reactive campaign. A single dose, which provides protection for at least six months, was administered. At the start of the year, senior health officials, including the Deputy Minister and Secretary for Health, conducted high-level support visits to assess the grassroots situation and implement targeted solutions.
“The cholera situation is under control. However, surveillance activities have been heightened during this rainy season, which is typically associated with a rise in cholera and other waterborne diarrheal diseases,” Dr. Maunganidze noted.
In the meantime, preparedness activities are being ramped up in cholera-prone communities. These efforts include updating Epidemic Preparedness and Response Plans at district, provincial, and national levels, activating the national incident management system, repositioning diagnostic and response resources, and training healthcare workers in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response.
