Zimbabwe cholera outbreak shifts to rural areas, World Vision reports

• Outbreak is far from over, warns World Vision cholera response manager
  
• Agency responding with cholera kits and medical care
  
• Epidemic expected to worsen over next two months of rainy season

Harare, Zimbabwe, January 28, 2009— The cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe, having already claimed more than 3,000 lives and with more than 54,000 reported cases, has shifted to rural areas, aid agency World Vision reports. Rural areas had previously recorded low cases of the epidemic since the first reported case last August.

“The outbreak is not yet under control,” said Wilfred Sikukula, World Vision’s cholera response manager in Zimbabwe. “It can best be described as having shifted from the urban centers, where it first manifested, to the rural areas.”

Sikukula said that despite the various efforts to contain the epidemic, the outbreak is far from over.

World Vision has sent additional staff and nurses to the affected areas, including Shamva, Bindura, Bikita, Chivi and Mudzi. World Vision has already sent assessments teams to these areas to identify needs and the aid agency is supplying cholera kits in many of the affected areas.

The epidemic is expected to worsen as the rainy season continues for the next two months.

Cholera, an easily treatable waterborne disease, thrives in poor sanitary conditions and has been accelerated by systematic under-funding in water and sanitation infrastructure and health delivery service.


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World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org/press