Diarrhoea outbreak hits Peterhouse Girls High School

Peterhouse Girls High School in Marondera has been hit by a diarrhoea outbreak that has affected 236 students, some of who have been hospitalised.

The diarrhoea is said to have affected all the students who ate lunch at the school on Thursday.

A total of 236 students were affected with some being treated at the school clinic while others were taken away by their parents for private treatment.

Marondera District Medical Officer, Dr Tawanda Borerwe confirmed the outbreak at the school and said samples have been taken to the government analyst laboratory with the results expected on Wednesday to determine the cause of the outbreak.

The school has also sent its samples to a private laboratory.

A team from the Ministry of Health and Child Care has since visited the school to investigate.

When the ZBC News visited the school to seek comment from the headmistress, Ms Tracy Blighaught, but a secretary at the school said she can only be seen after an appointment.

This is not the first time Peterhouse has been affected by an outbreak.

Last year, Peterhouse Boys High School had to send students home after many of them fell ill due to suspected contaminated water from the school's water source.