Zimbabwe has started mass vaccination exercise in urban areas as it fights the spread of a cholera outbreak that has killed over 40 people.
Zimbabwe’s government has said that it needs $35 million to fight the current outbreak. It is the worst to hit the country in a decade.
In 2008 Zimbabwe suffered its biggest cholera outbreak. Over 4,000 people died from that outbreak.
Thousands have been infected this year and containing the spread has been a major challenge.
Some 1.4 million are expected to be vaccinated in the most densely populated areas.
The government says there have been no deaths recorded in recent days signalling the progress being made.
#MSF applauds the gvt & partners who are supporting the roll out & implementation of the #Cholera oral vaccination program starting today in Glen View, Budiriro, Glen Norah & Mbare to protect residents from the bacteria that causes cholera. @zimbabwe_who@UNICEFZIMBABWE @MoHCCZim pic.twitter.com/HhbvQ6s1Xi
— MSF_Zimbabwe (@MSF_Zimbabwe) October 3, 2018
Police have already banned public gatherings in Harare to prevent further spread of the disease. Classes at some schools at the epicenter of the outbreak have been suspended.
Oral cholera vaccination is ongoing in the suburbs of Budiriro, Glen View, Glen Norah and Mbare pic.twitter.com/URtmZV5u9c
— WHO Zimbabwe (@zimbabwe_who) October 4, 2018
The World Health Organisation regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti says the vaccination could help stop the spread.
Moeti said in a statement the vaccine, “along with other efforts will help keep the current outbreak in check and may prevent it from spreading further into the country and becoming more difficult to control.”
CHOLERA UPDATE: IN video, today the Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Obadiah Moyo launched the Mass Cholera Oral Vaccination Program. He was the first to be vaccinated. @caesarzvayi@Michellehakata @TafadzwaMugwadi @HChikwanha @BTonhodzayi @MoHCCZim @UNICEFZIMBABWE @manoc9 pic.twitter.com/GDyyH61p9K
— The Herald Zimbabwe (@HeraldZimbabwe) October 3, 2018
Source: Africafeeds.com
