JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
We have progressively continued to record a downward trend in the number of new cholera cases because of the efficacious interventions we have put in place.
The drastic reduction of numbers of new cholera cases is attributed to the impeccable leadership of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwe Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, who made a bold decision, ordering a multisectoral effort.
Otherwise, we could have been worse off than what we are today.
I want to report that Lusaka has seen 20 new cases in the last 24 hours bringing the cumulative number of cases to 3,444 and 70 deaths.
For the other parts of the country, the cumulative number is 216 with 8 deaths
Nationwide, cumulative total is at 3,660 cases and 78 deaths.
Kanyama continues to record high number of cases, like 16 today, but we have continued to increase access to clean and safe water as well as burying shallow wells, which appears to be the main drivers of the epidemic.
Of the 20 cases; 16 Kanyama (3 Old Kanyama, 6 John Laing, 2 New Kanyama, 2 Chibolya, 1 Makeni Simson, 2 Garden house).
We have 1 case in Matero (George) and 3 in Chawama (1 Jack, 1 old Chawama, and 1 Makeni.
Currently, 38 (16 children & 22 adults) are under treatment in Lusaka District; 2 at Kanyama CTU, 11 at Chawama CTU and 25 at Heroes Cholera Hospital.
Outside Lusaka, five (5) new cases have been recorded in Chongwe (2), Petauke (2) and Mwinilunga (1) districts.
As of 23rd January 2018, laboratory culture was performed on 730 samples, of which 240 samples were positive for Vibrio cholerae O1 Ogawa.
To date 50 isolates of V. cholerae have been subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing using Ampicillin, Septrin, Tetracycline (Doxycyclin), Chloramphenicol, and Azithromycin.
So far no isolates have been found to be resistant to these antibiotics.
As I conclude, allow me to emphasize that we have continued with our cautious easing of the restrictive conditions on gatherings in the epicenters and the surrounding areas.
We have maintained vigilance in order not to lose the very positive gains made.
We have escalated multisectoral efforts to quell these new hotspots, and bring them in line with the very promising trajectory and maintain a downward trend until the outbreak is arrested.
Honourable Dr Chitalu Chilufya, MP MCC
Minister of Health
I think our people are mentally ILL. Why link cholera to leadership to cholera outbreak. If so then the President should take responsibility for the 78 deaths, ministers are sick people indeed.