Zimbabwe has confirmed a Cholera outbreak in eight provinces with Harare recording 21 suspected cases—prompting government to put the country on health pandemic alert.

The cholera outbreak comes a week after covid-19 was declared no longer a global pandemic.

The Covid-19 had claimed millions of people globally since the outbreak in 2019.

Cholera outbreaks have been noted regionally and Zimbabwe has so far recorded 588 cases.

The first cholera case was recorded in Chegutu 100 kilometers west of Harare in February.

According to the World Health Organization, the first cholera outbreak in the country in 2023 started on the 12th of February in Chegutu Town.

 As of 16 April, Zimbabwe’s cumulative suspected cases stood at 457, with 438 recoveries and two deaths.

Due to the high human traffic crossing through the country’s borders, there is a high risk of importation of cases into the country, especially considering that Zimbabwe is a transit route for most SADC countries.

The ministry of health has however advised the public to be alert for symptoms of watery diarrhea among travelers from Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, and alert their nearest health facilities for treatment.

The ministry also reminded the public about the spread of diarrheal and other enteric diseases during the current rainy season.

The World Health Organization recommends improving access to proper and timely case management of cholera cases, improving access to safe water and sanitation infrastructure as well as improving infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities to prevent cholera.

According to the World Health Organization, cholera is an acute waterborne disease that is preventable if people have access to safe water and sanitation and practice good hygiene, but can kill within hours if left untreated.

Historically, Zimbabwe’s worst cholera outbreak was in 2008 where the epidemic resulted in 98585 reported cases and caused more than 4000 deaths.

The epidemic emerged within two rounds of presidential elections that pitted President Robert Mugabe of ZANU-PF, in power since 1980 against the primary opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)

Emerging in a presidential election year, as did the previous cholera epidemic in 2002, the outbreak was the culmination of a series of politically motivated human rights violations that had intensified after the 2005 parliamentary elections.

In 2018, UNICEF collaborated with the City of Harare and non-governmental organizations to respond to the outbreak.

“With the imminent onset of seasonal rains, this European Commission contribution is timely to cut cholera transmission, help reduce the risk of future cholera outbreaks and mobilise communities around prevention and response activities,” said UNICEF’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Leila Pakkala.

UNICEF this year around (2023) is appealing for US$32.8 million to meet the increased humanitarian need in the country because of the multiple hazards of drought, tropical storm Freddy, flash floods, COVID-19, diarrheal disease outbreaks and the economic crisis impacted by COVID-19, among other factors.

The funding is to enable UNICEF to provide critical humanitarian assistance.

UNICEF Zimbabwe Country Office has received a total of US$5 million which is 15% of the total 2023 funding requirements from donors