adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
One person has died of cholera in Masvingo as the deadly disease continues to spread across the country. The death, which was confirmed by Masvingo provincial medical director Dr Amadeaus Shamu occurred at Masvingo General Hospital where the deceased, a male, was admitted in a quarantined ward.
“I can confirm that there is one death reported at Masvingo General Hospital last Friday night. The male adult from Siski suburb could have contracted cholera from Harare where he reportedly put up on his return from Guruve where he had visited,” said Dr Shamu.
Dr Shamu said the situation was under control with no reports of cholera outbreak in the city. He urged residents to always maintain high levels of hygiene.
Dr Shamu, Chances of typhoid and cholera outbreak said were now low following the re-installation of a functional pump at Bushmead Water Works by council engineers.
“In Masvingo no suspected case of typhoid or cholera has been positively proved so far, save for this one from Harare. I have not checked if the body of the deceased has been buried yet but as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we encourage relatives to conduct the burial under strict supervision of an environmental health official.’’
“Mourners should not be served with any food and everyone should wash his or her hands with running water after the burial while the grave should be disinfected,” he said.
Dr Shamu said while the water situation had drastically improved residents were advised to maintain high level of hygiene in their home.
He said residents should always wash their hands after using the toilet using soap and running water with those using borehole water supposed to boil water or use water guard.’’
“We encourage people to keep using aqua-tablets in borehole water. We cannot relax because cases of typhoid and cholera are still being reported in Harare and Gweru with many people still traveling to and Harare from Masvingo every day. Like in this case, the deceased was infected while traveling.”
Typhoid has so far claimed 10 people in Gweru amid due to contaminated water. The Ministry of Health and Child Care has diagnosed at least 15 000 of typhoid in Gweru since August.
Online Reporter