Rospotrebnadzor tells of Zimbabwe's help in fighting cholera outbreak

February 3, specialists of Rospotrebnadzor and its scientific organizations arrived in the capital of Zimbabwe - the city of Harare at the invitation of the authorities of the republic to combat the outbreak of cholera. This was reported in the press service of the agency on February 7.

"The infection has covered eight districts in three provinces of the country. 342 cases of cholera have been registered. During their stay in Zimbabwe, Rospotrebnadzor specialists visited infectious diseases hospitals, where patients were accommodated, reference laboratories, as well as examined patients with suspected cholera. In addition, they analyzed the state of public infrastructure in a number of regions of the country, in particular, water supply and sewerage," the agency said.

It is specified that the outbreak is seasonal and is associated with the rainy season, which runs in the country from November to February. As a result of a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Child Protection of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Russian doctors gave African partners the necessary recommendations and consultations.

At present, experts note a trend towards a decrease in the number of new infections.

"In 2025, within the framework of the program of assistance to African countries implemented by Rospotrebnadzor on the initiative of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, it is planned to hold training courses for epidemiologists, clinicians and laboratory diagnostics specialists from Zimbabwe using Russian test systems, as well as to assist in the development of a national cholera monitoring program in the Republic of Zimbabwe," the organization noted.

Over the past years, scientists and specialists from Russia have conducted work in the Republic of Congo, South Africa, Burundi, Guinea, Uganda and Madagascar.

Earlier, on October 19 last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported almost 50 thousand new cases of cholera. It is specified that since the last report, new cholera outbreaks have been reported in Niger (705 cases and 17 deaths) and Thailand (five non-fatal cases), bringing the total number of affected countries to 30 in 2024.