View source for 2017-18 Zambia cholera outbreak

{{current||current event|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox epidemic
| name = Zambian Cholera Outbreak
| map1 = Maps of Zambias Districts .jpg 
| legend1 = <center>Map of Zambia</center>
| map2 =Zambia Lusaka District.png
| legend2 =
 <center>District Lusaka</center>
| map3 =
Zambia_-_Lusaka.svg
| legend3 =
 <center>Lusaka Province</center>
| disease = [[Cholera]]
| bacteria_strain = ''Vibrio cholerae''
| first_case =
| dates = September 28, 2017 – present
| origin = Chipata Compound, [[Lusaka]]
| deaths = 51
| confirmed_cases = 2091
| suspected_cases = 
| total_ili = 
| website =
}}

The '''2017/2018 Zambian''' cholera outbreak in an on going epidemic of cholera affecting much of Zambia from October 2017 and become more lively in January. The outbreak began in Chipata compound and Kanyama compound of [[Lusaka]] city in October of 2017 then spread to most parts of the country by January of 2018
cases were being reported in all 3 provinces.
The outbreak peaked in January 2018 with over 91 cases reported. In total, 2091 cases of cholera and 51 deaths were reported so far, making this the fastest-growing outbreak in history. The large scale and severity of the outbreak has been attributed to poor sanitation and limited access to healthcare.

==Cause==
The 2017 cholera outbreak was caused by widespread infection with the bacterium
''Vibrio Cholerae'' which is spread through water contaminated with the feces of infected individuals. Cholera had been seen for decade leading up to the 2017 outbreak. One of the major contributing factors to the outbreak was the breakdown of the municipal water supply, sanitation , and
waste collection but the resurgence in cases was due to consuming contaminated food, mostly from street vendors and markets.<ref name=CUTG/>

==Outbreak==
The cholera outbreak initially started in the Chipata Compoud. On 6 October 2017, the [[Minister of Health]] declared an outbreak of cholera in the capital city.
From 28 September through 7 December 2017, 547 cases including 15 deaths (case fatality rate = 1.8%), have been reported since the beginning of the outbreak. The initial outbreak period was from 28 September through 20 October. From 21 October through 4 November 2017 there were less than five cases reported each week. However, from 5 November 2017 an increase in the number of cases was observed with a total of 136 cases reported in the week beginning 26 November. As of 7 December, the affected Compounds include Chipata, Kanyama, Chawama, Matero, Chilenje and Chelston. Sixty-two cases are currently receiving treatment in Cholera Treatment Centres in Chipata, Kanyama, Matero and Bauleni. One third of the cases are children under five years old and two thirds are persons five years and older.

== Efforts to reduce the cholera outbreak ==

On 29th December 2017 [[President Lungu]]<ref name=CUT>{{cite news|url= http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/12/zambia-deploys-army-fight-cholera-outbreak-171230190812235.html |publisher= aljazeera.com |title=Zambia deploys army to fight cholera outbreak |date=30 December 2017|accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref> dispatched Zambia's security wings to help fight a cholera outbreak, which had already  killed over 41 people in the capital city, and affected more than 1,500 others since September. In a Facebook post late on Friday, Lungu said "all three wings of the Defence Force" had been deployed "to escalate efforts" to minimise the spread of the disease.<ref name=CUTG>{{cite news|url= https://m.facebook.com/EdgarChagwaLungu/posts/1676327289090156|publisher= Facebook.com |title= Edgar Chagwa Lungu Facebook post|date=29 December 2017|accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref>

==Response==
WHO recommends proper and timely case management in Cholera Treatment Centres. Improving access to potable water and sanitation infrastructure, and improved hygiene and food safety practices in affected communities, are the most effective means of controlling cholera. Use of oral cholera vaccine may also be used for outbreak control. Key public health communication messages should be provided.
WHO advises against any restriction to travel to and trade with Zambia based on the information available on the current outbreak.<ref name=CHO>{{cite news|url= http://www.who.int/csr/don/11-december-2017-cholera-zambia/en/ |publisher= who.int|title= Emergencies preparedness, response |date=11 December 2017|accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref><ref name=CHO1>{{cite news|url= https://reliefweb.int/report/zambia/cholera-zambia-disease-outbreak-news-11-december-2017 |publisher= who.int|title= Cholera – Zambia: Disease Outbreak News |date=11 December 2017|accessdate=5 January 2018}}</ref>

==Also See==
* [[Chipata Compound]]
* [[Cholera in Zambia]]

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


{{Districts of Zambia}}

[[Category:2000s medical outbreaks]]
[[Category:2017 in Zambia]]
[[Category:2017 health disasters]]
[[Category:2018 in Zambia]]
[[Category:2018 health disasters]]
[[Category:Cholera outbreaks|2017]]
[[Category:Medical outbreaks in Zambia]]
[[Category:2017 in Lusaka]]
[[Category:2018 in Lusaka]]
[[Category:Medical outbreaks in Lusaka]]