In the midst of Zambia's most severe anthrax outbreak in over a decade, a fresh wave of tragedy unfolds as cholera claims four lives in the capital, Lusaka, within a mere 24 hours. The toll rises to 64 victims nationwide since the year's onset, with 46 fatalities concentrated in the capital and a staggering 1,600 infections reported.
The National Institute of Public Health of Zambia sheds light on this alarming surge, emphasizing the mounting threat of cholera across the continent, as noted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Health Minister Sylvia Masebo underscores the government's proactive response, distributing chlorine to purify water in affected areas and urging strict adherence to hygiene protocols.
These recent casualties follow the WHO's declaration of Zambia grappling with its worst anthrax outbreak since 2011. The anthrax scourge, claiming four lives and afflicting 700 suspected cases since the year began, poses a menacing specter. The bacterium Bacillus anthracis, lingering as spores in soil from past animal burials, is not only transmissible to humans but can be fatal in its rarest forms.
Amid this crisis, the WHO identifies 26 suspected anthrax cases linked to the consumption of meat from three hippos, raising concerns about the epidemic's potential cross-border spread. Zambia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe collectively tally 20 deaths and approximately 1,100 suspected cases, emphasizing the regional gravity of this public health emergency.