Zimbabwe records 12,483 common diarrhoea cases, 12 deaths in one week 

Zimbabwe records 12,483 common diarrhoea cases, 12 deaths in one week

Minister of Health, Douglas Mombeshora

A total of 12,483 cases of common diarrhoea, including 12 deaths, were recorded across the country in the week ending January 12. Of the reported cases, 2,867 involved children under the age of five.

 

According to the Health Ministry, seven of the deaths were from Harare, while the remaining five were from other parts of the country.

 

“Weekly disease surveillance report for the week ending on 12 January 2025.

 

“6506 common diarrhoea cases and seven deaths were reported this week. The deaths were reported from Sally Mugabe Hospital (6), and Parirenyatwa Group of Hospital (1) in Harare Metropolitan Province.

 

“Of the reported cases of common diarrhoea, 2867 were under five years of age. The provinces that reported the highest number of cases were Mash Central (932) and Mashonaland West (1877).

 

“Cumulative figures for diarrhoea are 12483 cases and 12 deaths,” the ministry said in a statement.

 

The majority of Zimbabwe’s population is living without running tap water in their homes.

 

As a result, many have resorted to digging shallow wells and boreholes, which are tainted by raw sewage leaking from broken pipes.

 

This has triggered repeated outbreaks of waterborne illnesses such as cholera and diarrhoea.

 

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry also recorded 1,138 malaria cases and four deaths in the same week, with Guruve being the most affected, reporting 639 cases and one death.

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