Public assembly banned in Harare, Zimbabwe amid cholera outbreak Wednesday Sep 12,2018

Authorities in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, banned public gatherings as part of efforts to contain a cholera outbreak that has killed 21 people over the past week. 

In a statement issued on Wednesday Sep 12,2018, Zimbabwe Republic Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba asked residents to "take heed" of the ruling, which came after health officials identified more than 3,000 suspected cases of the waterborne disease.

"The government has declared the cholera outbreak in Harare a state of emergency, meaning that it is also a threat to human security," Charamba said.

Outbreaks of cholera occur regularly in Zimbabwe because of dilapidated water and sanitation facilities. Informal housing areas without running water have mushroomed and basic infrastructure has collapsed after years of neglect.

Examination of water samples from some wells and boreholes in Harare, home to swaths of slum-like housing, tested positive for contamination with the disease.

Cholera, which can kill within hours if untreated, is caused by the consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

President of Zimbabwe ✔ @edmnangagwa

 · 22h

My thoughts & prayers are with those suffering from the cholera outbreak, and the loved ones of those we have lost. In order to contain the outbreak & mobilise resources we have declared a state of emergency in Harare, and are working closely with our international partners (1/2)

President of Zimbabwe ✔ @edmnangagwa

I urge all residents of affected areas to exercise extra care with their hygiene & follow the instructions of the authorities as we seek to contain & overcome this outbreak. We are working tirelessly to control the situation and hope to communicate progress in due course (2/2)

8:18 PM - Sep 12, 2018