417
edits
2017-18 Zambia cholera outbreak: Difference between revisions
From Chalo Chatu, Zambia online encyclopedia
2017-18 Zambia cholera outbreak (view source)
Revision as of 11:01, 21 January 2018
, 21 January 2018no edit summary
Chalochatu (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
|||
| (29 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
Zambia_-_Lusaka.svg | Zambia_-_Lusaka.svg | ||
| legend3 = | | legend3 = | ||
<centre>Lusaka Province</centre> | |||
| disease = [[Cholera]] | | disease = [[Cholera]] | ||
| bacteria_strain = ''Vibrio cholerae'' | | bacteria_strain = ''Vibrio cholerae'' | ||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| dates = September 28, 2017 – present | | dates = September 28, 2017 – present | ||
| origin = Chipata Compound, [[Lusaka]] | | origin = Chipata Compound, [[Lusaka]] | ||
| deaths = | | deaths = 70 | ||
| confirmed_cases = | | confirmed_cases = 3,077 | ||
| suspected_cases = | | suspected_cases = | ||
| total_ili = | | total_ili = | ||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
}} | }} | ||
The '''2017 | The '''2017-18 Zambian''' cholera outbreak in an on going epidemic of cholera affecting much of Zambia from October 2017 and become more lively in January. The outbreak began in [[Chipata compound]] and [[Kanyama compound]] of [[Lusaka]] city in October of 2017 then spread to most parts of the country by January of 2018. Cases were have been reported in 3 provinces. | ||
The outbreak peaked in January 2018 with over 91 cases reported. In total, 2091 cases of cholera and 51 deaths | The outbreak peaked in January 2018 with over 91 cases reported. In total, 2091 cases of cholera and 51 deaths have so far been reported, making this the fastest-growing outbreak in the history of the country. The large scale and severity of the outbreak has been attributed to poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare. | ||
==Cause== | ==Cause== | ||
The 2017 cholera outbreak was caused by widespread infection with the bacterium | The 2017 cholera outbreak was caused by widespread infection with the bacterium | ||
''Vibrio Cholerae'' which is spread through water contaminated with the feces of infected individuals. Cholera had been seen for decade leading up to the 2017 outbreak. One of the major contributing factors to the outbreak was the breakdown of the municipal water supply, sanitation | ''Vibrio Cholerae'' which is spread through water contaminated with the feces of infected individuals. Cholera had been seen for decade leading up to the 2017 outbreak. One of the major contributing factors to the outbreak was the breakdown of the municipal water supply, sanitation and | ||
waste collection but the resurgence in cases was due to | waste collection, but the resurgence in cases was due to consumtion of contaminated food, mostly from street vendors and markets.<ref name=CUTG/> | ||
==Outbreak== | ==Outbreak== | ||
The cholera outbreak initially started in | The cholera outbreak initially started in | ||
From 28 September through 7 December 2017, 547 cases including 15 deaths | [[Chipata compoud]] of [[Lusaka]]. On 6 October 2017, [[Minister of Health]] [[Chitalu Chilufya]] announced the outbreak in the capital city. | ||
From 28 September through 7 December 2017, 547 cases including 15 deaths were reported, giving a case fatality rate of 1.8%. The initial outbreak period was from 28 September through 20 October. From 21 October through 4 November 2017 there were less than five cases reported each week. However, from 5 November 2017 an increase in the number of cases was observed with a total of 136 cases reported in the week beginning 26 November. As of 7 December, the affected areas include [[Chipata compound|Chipata]], [[Kanyama]], [[Chawama]], [[Matero]], [[Chilenje]] and [[Chelstone]]. Sixty-two cases are currently receiving treatment in Cholera Treatment Centres in Chipata, Kanyama, Matero and | |||
[[Bauleni]]. One third of the cases are children under five years old and two thirds are persons five years and older. | |||
== Efforts to reduce the cholera outbreak == | == Efforts to reduce the cholera outbreak == | ||
| Line 43: | Line 46: | ||
The first food outlet to be closed was hungry lion on January 4, 2018 after Vibro Cholera was found in the food samples taken at the three outlets Hungry lion at Levy Mall, Hungry Lion Cairo road and Hungry Lion Kulima Tower.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/01/04/government-shuts-three-hungry-lion-outlets-lusaka/ |publisher= Lusaka Times |title=Government shuts down three Hungry Lion outlets in Lusaka |date=5 January 2018|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> | The first food outlet to be closed was hungry lion on January 4, 2018 after Vibro Cholera was found in the food samples taken at the three outlets Hungry lion at Levy Mall, Hungry Lion Cairo road and Hungry Lion Kulima Tower.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.lusakatimes.com/2018/01/04/government-shuts-three-hungry-lion-outlets-lusaka/ |publisher= Lusaka Times |title=Government shuts down three Hungry Lion outlets in Lusaka |date=5 January 2018|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> | ||
The Seventh Day Adventist Church announced that it had cancelled all Church gatherings including Sabbath worship at its Lusaka Central Church. | === Closure of Churches=== | ||
The Catholic Church through the ADL Pastoral Coordinator Father Thomas Banda advised Catholics to stay away from funeral houses saying only a priest could go there for prayers. | |||
The Seventh Day Adventist Church announced that it had cancelled all Church gatherings including Sabbath worship at its Lusaka Central Church on the 4th of January through its social medias while other churches in where closed down on the 6th of January.<ref name=O1>{{cite news|url= http://zambianeye.com/church-services-cancelled-due-to-cholera/ |publisher= zambianeye.com |title= Church services cancelled due to cholera |date= January 5, 2018 |accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> | |||
=== Closure of Schools=== | |||
On January 2 the Minster of Health [[Chitalu Chilufya]] requested that all schools cholera has breaken out alredy should not reopen to avoid cross-contamination. <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/02/c_136867587.htm|publisher= www.xinhuanet.com |title=Schools in cholera-hit areas in Zambian capital to remain closed: official|date=5 January 2018|accessdate=6 January 2018}}</ref> Both | |||
government and private schools were expected to reopen on January 15. | |||
On 5th January 2018 the Registrar of UNZA Sitali Wamundila announced the indefinite closure of the institution owing to the cholera outbreak. | On 5th January 2018 the Registrar of UNZA Sitali Wamundila announced the indefinite closure of the institution owing to the cholera outbreak. | ||
| Line 75: | Line 85: | ||
[[Category:2017 disasters in Zambia| Cholera ]] | [[Category:2017 disasters in Zambia| Cholera ]] | ||
[[Category:2018 disasters in Zambia| Cholera ]] | [[Category:2018 disasters in Zambia| Cholera ]] | ||
[[Category:Cholera pandemics]] | |||
[[Category:National crises]] | |||
