The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says that almost 700 people have died from cholera in Zambia, making it the worst outbreak ever recorded in the country. The outbreak started in the capital city, Lusaka, in October and has since affected more than 19,000 people in all of Zambia’s provinces.
Cholera is a disease that can be treated easily with rehydration, but without proper care, it can kill a person in a few hours. The disease is caused by water that is contaminated, so having clean drinking water is crucial to prevent it from spreading further.
The African Centre for Disease Control Support reported in January that 11,304 cases and 448 deaths have been reported from 47 districts in nine Provinces. Out of the total deaths, 199 occurred in health facilities, while 249 happened in the community.
The cholera outbreak in Zambia was first detected in October 2023, when clusters of cases were found in Lusaka (Matero and Kanyama suburbs, which are now the epicentre).
The outbreak has since reached nine out of the ten Provinces, with a significant increase in transmission observed between mid-December 2023 and January 2024.
