Diarrhoea outbreak forces school to close

There is, however, strong suspi­cion that the diarrhoea could have been caused by contaminated water.
The children use borehole water.

Samples of the water have since been collected for examination and results were expected tomorrow.
The exact number of pupils affected could not be immediately established as the school headmaster who was only identified as Mr Mupangara was away, while the administra­tion staff was busy attending to par­ents.

Ministry of Health and Child Wel­fare director for epidemiology and disease control Dr Portia Man­angazira confirmed that water sam­ples had since been sent for analysis.

Dr Manangazira said from infor­mation gathered so far, water provi­-sion had never been an issue at the school.
“If the outbreak has been caused by water then it is about the quality not the quantity,” she said.

Dr Manangazira said she was yet to get a full report from the district and promised more details on the outbreak today.