12 Deaths Recorded as Diarrhoea Cases Rise in Zimbabwe

FILE: A doctor examines a child suffering from typhoid at a local infectious disease hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe, November15, 2011.

The Ministry of Health says diarrheal cases are going up in Zimbabwe with the weekly surveillance report showing that 12 people have died of the disease in the past few weeks with Mashonaland Central being hardest hit.

According to a report in the Herald newspaper, five of the deaths reported were from children under the age of five. To date, 183 people have succumbed to the disease since the beginning of the year.

The report showed that 9,688 cases were recorded this week with 18,599 being affected by the disease in the past two weeks.

Head of epidemiology in the Health Ministry Dr. Portia Manangazira told VOA Studio 7 those suspecting they have diarrhea should visit their nearest clinic or hospital immediately to avoid complications.

Dr. Manhangazira added that people should continue practicing good hygiene like treating drinking water and washing hands to avoid contracting the disease.

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Interveiw with Dr Portia Manhangazira