A severe cholera outbreak that started in October 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia, has led to over 400 deaths and affected an estimated 10,000 individuals.
The disease has spread throughout Zambia, with the capital city, Lusaka, bearing the brunt of the epidemic. To accommodate the surge of patients, authorities have converted a 60,000-seat soccer stadium into a makeshift treatment center.
Cholera, a disease defined by severe diarrhea, is commonly associated with poverty and inadequate access to clean water. The disease spreads through contaminated food or water, making it highly dangerous in areas with poor sanitation.
Although cholera can be treated quickly and effectively, the death rate during this outbreak in Zambia is worrying, reaching 4%. This rate is considerably higher than the usual fatality rate of less than 1% when the illness is addressed promptly.
In a bid to combat this public health crisis, the Zambian government has launched a large-scale vaccination drive and is supplying about 634,000 gallons of clean water daily to impacted communities.
The National Disaster Management Agency has been activated to address the crisis. However, over half of the deaths happened before patients could access medical care, highlighting the difficulties in healthcare delivery and disease control.
This epidemic represents the worst cholera outbreak in Zambia in 20 years. Health Minister Sylvia Masebo has underscored the severity of the issue on a national scale, highlighting its impact on national health security.
Cholera’s grip on Zambia reflects a wider trend in Southern Africa. Since the beginning of 2023, countries like Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have also been battling outbreaks. The region has seen over 200,000 confirmed cholera cases and nearly 3,000 deaths this year.
Factors contributing to the outbreak include heavy rainfall, storms, and the impact of climate change, which is leading to more frequent and powerful storms.
To further contain the outbreak, the Zambian government postponed the reopening of schools from January 8, 2024, to January 29, 2024. This step mirrors the cleaning and inspection requirements for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
