News / Health
Typhoid continues to spread in Harare suburbs
03 Mar 2012 at 23:00hrs | Views
Cases of typhoid in several suburbs of Harare continue to increase with about 3 000 cases reported at the end of last week compared to 2 816 from the previous week. Harare City Council confirmed that the disease had spread from Kuwadzana to adjacent areas such as Mufakose and Budiriro.
Latest figures show that more than 3 000 people have so far tested positive to the bacteria that causes the disease.
Harare City Council health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said the city was concerned about the increase in typhoid cases.
"Our worry is that typhoid is now spreading to other areas adjacent to Kuwadzana.
"At the moment we have over 3 000 cases, both suspected and confirmed," said Dr Chonzi.
Dr Chonzi said cases of typhoid were being perpetuated by food which is being sold in the open spaces
"We already have typhoid in the city and activities such as fish vending in open spaces are affecting efforts to curb the disease," said Dr Chonzi.
"We are now moving into the unaffected areas so that we can educate about the spread of the typhoid. The city has found it better to concentrate on preventive measures rather than corrective measures."
Dr Chonzi said some donors had come on board to assist the city and were providing aqua tablets and servicing boreholes.
Yesterday the Government said it had no capacity to deal with the typhoid outbreak that had spread to Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.
In an interview on ZBC News, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera, said a lack of funding had stalled efforts to curb typhoid.
He said his ministry was yet to receive money from treasury to buy antibiotics needed by patients.
Latest figures show that more than 3 000 people have so far tested positive to the bacteria that causes the disease.
Harare City Council health director Dr Prosper Chonzi said the city was concerned about the increase in typhoid cases.
"Our worry is that typhoid is now spreading to other areas adjacent to Kuwadzana.
"At the moment we have over 3 000 cases, both suspected and confirmed," said Dr Chonzi.
Dr Chonzi said cases of typhoid were being perpetuated by food which is being sold in the open spaces
"We are now moving into the unaffected areas so that we can educate about the spread of the typhoid. The city has found it better to concentrate on preventive measures rather than corrective measures."
Dr Chonzi said some donors had come on board to assist the city and were providing aqua tablets and servicing boreholes.
Yesterday the Government said it had no capacity to deal with the typhoid outbreak that had spread to Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West provinces.
In an interview on ZBC News, the Minister of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera, said a lack of funding had stalled efforts to curb typhoid.
He said his ministry was yet to receive money from treasury to buy antibiotics needed by patients.
Source - SM
