The current cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has been ongoing since Feb. 12, 2023, when one case was reported from the town of Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province. Following a decline in disease activity, cases began to surge in November 2023. Health officials have attributed the surge to poor sanitation, contaminated water supplies, mass gatherings, cross-border mobility, and the onset of the rainy season. Zimbabwean health officials reported 135 cases of cholera in 2022 and 10,671 cases in the 2018-2019 outbreak.
Cholera is transmitted directly through food or water contaminated with fecal material from an infected person. Most infected people develop no symptoms or only mild diarrhea. However, approximately one in 10 infected people develop severe cholera, which causes symptoms including profuse, watery diarrhea, vomiting, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, muscle cramps, restlessness, or irritability. Symptoms typically appear two or three days after exposure but can develop up to five days after exposure. Individuals with severe cholera can develop acute renal failure, severe electrolyte imbalances, and coma. If left untreated, these can lead to shock and rapid death.
