Zimbabwe imposes measures to fight cholera outbreak
Zimbabwean authorities have imposed restrictions in several parts of the country, including the capital, to fight a resurgence of cholera-related deaths. The cash-strapped nation's health ministry said in an overnight statement it had recorded 36 new suspected cholera cases on Thursday. In the capital Harare, people have been discouraged from shaking hands, eating at gatherings and buying food from unlicensed vendors. In the Zaka district, some 340 kilometres (211 miles) south of the capital, the local government has banned all public gatherings that have not been approved by the health ministry. Since the outbreak was reported in February, 30 confirmed cholera-related deaths have been recorded, while 100 people are suspected to have died from the disease. In total, "4,645 suspected cholera cases, 30 laboratory confirmed deaths, 100 suspected cholera deaths and 905 laboratory confirmed cases were reported," the health ministry said. All 10 provinces have reported cases since the fresh outbreak was announced earlier this year. Cholera outbreaks occur regularly in Zimbabwean cities where supplies of drinking water and sanitation facilities are erratic and infrastructure has collapsed due to years of neglect. In 2008, cholera claimed at least 4,000 lives in Zimbabwe and at least 100,000 people fell ill. It happened at the height of the country's economic crisis when most of the public hospitals were closed due to a shortage of medicines and the flight of health workers abroad. (AFP)