WHO - Approaching Rainy Season May Push Zimbabwe's Cholera Epidemic Across Southern Africa

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GENEVA (Reuters) - Rainy season floods could make it even harder to stop Zimbabwe's epidemic of cholera that appears to be spreading across southern Africa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday.

Some 73,385 Zimbabweans have been infected with water-borne diarrhoeal disease since August and 3,524 have died, in Africa's deadliest cholera outbreak in 15 years.

WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib said that the countries sharing borders with Zimbabwe have all reported cholera infections that could be related to the country's ongoing epidemic. "There is believed to be a link between the Zimbabwe outbreak and South Africa, and possibly with Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia," she told a news briefing in Geneva, where the United Nations agency is based. "Movements of population are likely the source of infection and spread."

The wet season stands to propel cholera-contaminated water in Zimbawbe's rivers and wells, and floods may keep aid workers from distributing needed water purification tablets, rehydration salts, and soap in rural areas, according to the WHO spokswoman. "Cholera is not yet under control, far from it," she said.

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http://www.reutershealth.com/archive/2009/02/13/eline/links/20090213elin010.html