Zimbabwe Hopeful UN Cholera Vaccines Will Contain Outbreak

FILE - A family is seen entering a tent set up for suspected cholera patients at a clinic in Harare, Zimbabwe, Nov. 18, 2023. Garbage in most urban areas in Zimbabwe, such as Harare, goes uncollected for days, weeks or even months, creating a fertile breeding ground for cholera. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA) Vendors have remained on the streets of Harare, selling uninspected vegetables and fruits which public health authorities say is hindering efforts to contain Zimbabwe's cholera outbreak. (Columbus Mavhunga/VOA)

Zimbabwean health authorities — battling a cholera outbreak that has infected about 20,000 people and killed more than 370 — say they hope donated vaccines will ease the spread of waterborne disease now affecting 60 of the country’s 64 districts. Zimbabwean Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora told reporters in Harare on Wednesday that the country had recorded 20,121 suspected cholera cases and 376 deaths — six of them since Tuesday. He said the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund had secured 2.3 million cholera vaccine doses for the country, with nearly 900,000 of them to be administered next week. “The vaccination campaign is expected to start from the 29th of January in [a] phased approach to the hot spots,” he said. “This is because the doses are not enough to cover the whole country. And then roll on to the other affected districts as we receive more vaccines. The challenge is that there is a shortage of vaccine in the world because cholera is not in Zimbabwe alone. So, all other countries that have reported cholera are also getting the same vaccine from the same source. So, it’s now controlled by the WHO. Otherwise only the rich countries will wipe out the vaccines before others get them.” Mombeshora said 37 African countries had confirmed cases of cholera. The WHO’s Africa office did not confirm the number Wednesday.