UN: Cholera death toll continues to rise in Zimbabwe

Dec 23, 2008, 11:42 GMT

Geneva - The death toll in Zimbabwe from cholera has continued to rise and at least 1,174 people have died in the latest epidemic, an official with the UN's Children Fund said Tuesday.

In all, some 23,712 cases of the disease have been reported, leaving the mortality rate at over 5 per cent, well above the acceptable 1 per cent during an outbreak.

'Cholera is caused by contamination of the water sources and deterioration of the water system,' said Roland Monasch, with UNICEF in Zimbabwe.

The International Federation of the Red Cross warned that the start of the rainy season along with the migration patterns common during Christmas can further deteriorate the situation.

'Normally, it is this of the year when cholera starts in Zimbabwe,' said Dominique Praplan, head of health at the Red Cross, noting that winter was the rainy season. However, this year the outbreak started a few months ago, he added.

Only 60 per cent of piped water reaches the population, owing to leaks in the pipes and those holes also let in mud and dirt and UNICEF said it was handing out 'aqua tabs' to households so they can purify the contaminated water.

Zimbabwe was also suffering from chronic poverty, food insecurity, unplanned urbanization and a high HIV infection rate.

The UN and other aid agencies have based their prevention efforts on a worst case scenario estimate in which 60,000 people could contract the disease.

Without prevention and better access to clean water, the situation is likely to deteriorate, aid workers said.

Cholera treatment centers continued to suffer staffing issues, as medics, many of whom are going without salaries, cannot show up to work. Only a handful of professionals were staffing clinics where several dozen are needed.

UNICEF also expressed concern that children would continue to go without education, as teachers too do not show up for work. Attendance was said to have reached record lows.

The UN agency said it hoped to get more kids back in school by 13 January, when the holiday break ends.