‘352,792, Diarrhoea Cases ReportedIn 2015, With10,000 Just This Week’: Health ministry

SOME 10,619 cases of diarrhoea and 8 deaths were reported around the country last week with half of the fatalities being children under the age of five, it has emerged.

According to a report from the health and child care ministry, typhoid and common diarrhoea cases remain high due to inadequate supply of safe water as well as poor sanitation and hygiene practices.

Manicaland (1,534) and Mashonaland West (1,515) were the worst affected provinces followed by Chitungwiza, Mashonaland West and Matebeleland South.

Since the beginning of this year, the cumulative number of common diarrhoea cases has now reached 352,792 with 385 deaths recorded.

The health ministry’s report also shows an upsurge in clinical dysentery cases which topped 811 and one fatality last week.

“Of the reported cases, 204 (25.2%) were from the under five years of age,” reads the report.

“The deaths were reported from Zvimba district in Mashonaland West province and the provinces which reported the highest number of cases were in Manicaland and the Midlands.

“The cumulative figure for dysentery is 27,502 cases and 82 deaths to date.”

The ministry however, said there had not been any new “confirmed or suspected” cases of cholera. source-newzimbabwe

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