Kabwe district in Central Province has recorded 68 cases of cholera with 60 being reported from David Ramushu Secondary School in Mine compound.
According to Provincial Permanent Secretary Miner Mwanakampwe, the waterborne disease has also affected two teachers, four non-pupils and one pupil from Shitima Primary school in Luangwa residential area.
Dr Mwanakampwe tells ZANIS that 21 patients have been discharged while 41 are still admitted to Ngungu health Centre.
He explains that the outbreak was first detected when a teacher from David Ramushu School was presented with symptoms on March 26 at Kasanda Health Centre followed by a 13 year-old pupil who tested positive for cholera.
“Kabwe District Health Office with support from Kabwe Municipal Council, the Provincial Health Office and the Provincial administration has distributed chlorine to the affected families and nearby households, equipped water tanks with online chlorinators at the boreholes. The health office further isolated and treated the suspected and confirmed cases of the disease,” he said.
Dr Mwanakampwe says health workers collected water samples for bacteria analysis to determine the source of contamination.
“Risk communication and community engagement activities and provision of drugs and medical supplies and personal protective equipment are underway,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary stated that government has since intensified inspection of food and trading premises and urged the public to maintain high standards of hygiene.
Dr Mwanakampwe said he has engaged Lukanga Water and Sanitation Company and ZESCO to ensure that the main pumping centres at Kalulu and Bruneli are not load shed to ensure the compounds have a steady supply of water to improve their hygiene in view of the outbreak.
He said, “The water utility is also expected to work on the water pipes that have leakages to mitigate the problem.”
Meanwhile, Provincial Health Director Elijah Mutoloki has described the condition of those still admitted to the health Centre as stable.
And, a check at Kasanda, found 13 patients suspected to have cholera admitted to the health facility.
Dr Sibongile Syachaba said all the 13 are in a stable condition.
ZANIS