Zambia Cholera Vaccines: Zambia Fights Back Against the Surge of Cholera Cases A New Challenge for Public Health
Zambia Cholera Vaccines Across Multiple Provinces
The latest cholera outbreak in Zambia Cholera Vaccines has spread to multiple provinces across the country according to new data from the Zambian Ministry of Health. As of June 2022, cases of the waterborne bacterial infection have been reported in 6 provinces namely Lusaka, Copperbelt, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga and North-Western provinces. The outbreak was first declared in early March in some compounds of the capital Lusaka and has since spread to border districts.
Lusaka Remains Epicenter
Lusaka province continues to bear the brunt of the outbreak with over 300 confirmed cases and 10 deaths reported so far. Dense urban settlements with poor sanitation facilities have accelerated the spread in the capital city. Areas like Kanyama, Chipata and George compounds have emerged as hotspots. Health authorities are struggling to contain person-to-person transmission in overcrowded communities where access to clean water is limited. Contact tracing efforts have pushed the cumulative national tally to over 450 suspected and confirmed cases.
Copperbelt Next in Zambia Cholera Vaccines
After Lusaka, Copperbelt province is the next most impacted with over 70 cholera patients identified across its towns and mining settlements. The border district of Chingola was one of the first areas to report cases outside Lusaka indicating the outbreak had spread. Nearby districts of Kitwe and Ndola have also logged increasing numbers in recent weeks. Mining operations have been disrupted due to loss of man-hours as workers self-isolate or visit crowded health centers. Local leaders are working with aid partners to mount response activities in congested colonies.
Rural Upsurge Worries Officials
While urban areas closer to borders bore the initial burden, the detection of cholera in remote rural districts of Northern, Luapula, Muchinga and North-Western provinces is alarming health authorities. The Luapula river which flows through these regions is considered contaminated putting communities at high risk of infection through water contact. Cross-border infections from Democratic Republic of Congo are also possible. With poorly equipped local clinics, the outbreak threatens to overwhelm existing care systems if preventive action is not scaled up swiftly. Non-governmental partners are supplementing government strategy with mobile response teams, treatment centers, and oral rehydration corners in volatile zones.
Water, Sanitation Interventions Scale Up
As part of the multisectoral outbreak control plan, the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection is leading mass chlorination of drinking water sources, installation of additional safe water access points, and hygiene promotion through nationwide campaigns in affected areas. Over 15,000 households have been targeted for construction of emergency ventilated improved pit latrines to cut disease transmission. Preliminary results indicate interventions have curbed case increases in initial hotspots but continuous preventive action will be critical. The government is appealing for $20 million in emergency funding from international donors to adequately scale up the expanding health response.
Disease Surveillance Strengthened
Meanwhile, health authorities are ramping up disease surveillance and robust case management practices across all districts. Additional treatment centers are being established while existing facilities are being supplied with essential medical supplies, beds and staff. Intensive care is being provided to severe cases to reduce fatality rates. Active case finding is identifying more asymptomatic carriers to ensure they receive treatment and do not pass on the infection. Frontline health workers are being trained in standardized case definitions, sample collection and timely reporting to the national level. This improved quality of surveillance and response is expected to aid curbing of the outbreak over the next few months.
Factors like frequent population movement, cross-border migration and trading activities continue pose challenges to outbreak management. Many rural communities lack reliable water sources and sanitation facilities putting them at risk throughout the rainy season. Poverty and food insecurity in some areas compromise immunity making people prone to infection. Overcoming socio-economic determinants requires intensive investment beyond the health sector. While the government response has intensified, delayed action in hotspots initially allowed wider spread necessitating larger resources now for containment. Close monitoring and coordination between government agencies, local administrations and donors will be important to fully control this public health crisis within the stipulated timelines. With timely case management and preventive interventions, Zambia aims to arrest the cholera outbreak by early 2023.
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