Chronicle Editor
Online writer
THE Bulawayo City Council has ramped up disease surveillance and emergency response mechanisms to tackle evolving public health challenges.
This comes as the city grapples with a series of disease outbreaks and escalating concerns over sanitation and law enforcement.
A council report for November 2024 revealed trends in disease conditions recorded across the city. The report highlighted:
• Diarrhoea: A staggering 30 cases, though down from 362 in October.
• Dog Bites: 24 cases, a significant drop from 50 the previous month. Alarmingly, 18% of the implicated dogs were unvaccinated, posing a serious health risk.
• Acute Malnutrition: 63 cases, reflecting a persistent public health concern.
• Influenza: 90 cases, a decline from 116 in October.
• Mumps: One case, following zero reports in October.
• COVID-19: A single case, down from three in October.
The city reported no cases of cholera, measles, or typhoid alerts, though the region remains vulnerable to outbreaks of these diseases. Additionally, a single imported malaria case was recorded, underscoring the city’s susceptibility to transboundary health threats.
To address these concerns, intensified emergency response measures were rolled out, including:
• Early detection and timely containment of outbreaks within 14 days.
• Active case finding and contact tracing to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
• Targeted multi-sectoral interventions in high-risk areas.
The city also remains vigilant against emerging health threats such as the Mpox virus, wild poliovirus outbreaks in neighbouring Malawi and Mozambique, and regional cholera surges.
Online Reporter