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| Zimbabwe cholera deaths near 500 | Zimbabwe cholera deaths near 500 |
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| A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 484 people since August, according to the UN. | A cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has killed at least 484 people since August, according to the UN. |
| More than 11,700 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period, an update from the UN office for humanitarian affairs said. | More than 11,700 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period, an update from the UN office for humanitarian affairs said. |
| The cholera outbreak has affected most of Zimbabwe's regions. | The cholera outbreak has affected most of Zimbabwe's regions. |
| Its spread has been aided by the collapse of Zimbabwe's health and sanitation systems amid a prolonged economic and political crisis. | Its spread has been aided by the collapse of Zimbabwe's health and sanitation systems amid a prolonged economic and political crisis. |
| Previously it had been reported that 425 people had died from cholera, which is spread by contaminated water. | Previously it had been reported that 425 people had died from cholera, which is spread by contaminated water. |
| State media has reported that much of the capital, Harare, has been left without water because of a shortage of purification chemicals. | State media has reported that much of the capital, Harare, has been left without water because of a shortage of purification chemicals. |
| The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak "can spread quickly into areas without access to safe water and sanitation". | The World Health Organization has warned that the outbreak "can spread quickly into areas without access to safe water and sanitation". |
| "Case fatality rates may rapidly escalate in populations without rapid access to simple treatments," it said. | "Case fatality rates may rapidly escalate in populations without rapid access to simple treatments," it said. |
| 'Sub-regional threat' | |
| Cholera is endemic in Zimbabwe, and there have been outbreaks annually since 1998, according to the WHO. Reactivating primary health care services should keep being addressed as a matter of emergency World Health Organization class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7752170.stm">Doctors' struggle class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7714892.stm">Hospital death throes But this is the most deadly outbreak for 15 years, health officials say. | |
| During the outbreak the case fatality rate from cholera has risen to 4%, the WHO said, but had reached 50% in some areas during its early stages. | |
| Health Minister David Parirenyatwa has said people should stop shaking hands to prevent the disease spreading. | |
| Cholera can be treated easily but hospitals lack medicines and staff. | |
| The government has blamed this on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down President Robert Mugabe. | |
| But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at Mr Mugabe and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | |
| Zimbabwe is facing a severe economic crisis. | |
| The latest estimated annual inflation rate was 231,000,000%, and just one adult in five is thought to have a regular job. | |
| The WHO said Zimbabwe's health facilities face a "massive gap" in required medicines due to a drop in local manufacturing capacity, weakened in turn by a shortage of foreign currency. | |
| "Reactivating primary health care services should keep being addressed as a matter of emergency," the health agency said. | |
| Cases of cholera have been reported either side of Zimbabwe's border with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique, showing the sub-regional threat of the outbreak, it said. | |
| South Africa's ministry of health has confirmed more than 160 cholera cases, including three deaths. | |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? Send you comment using the form below: | Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? Send you comment using the form below: |