Zimbabwe: Cholera Outbreak - Dec 2024

Zimbabwe has recorded a surge in cholera cases, which have reached critical levels, necessitating urgent interventions. Harare reported its first case on December 6, 2024, in the Belvedere squatter camp. The outbreak, also reported on December 19, 2024, in Mazowe District, Bindura, Kariba, Mt Darwin, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP), Beitbridge, Chiredzi, and Hwedza, has escalated rapidly, with cumulative cases reaching 579 and 13 fatalities recorded as of March 12, 2025. This cholera outbreak is particularly alarming due to its unprecedented spread into areas that were previously unaffected by the disease, such as Hwedza and UMP. Historically, cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe have been concentrated in urban centers and known hotspot districts with fragile water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. However, the current outbreak has breached these traditional patterns, affecting both rural and peri-urban areas that had not previously reported cases, signaling a worrying shift in disease dynamics. (IFRC, 20 Mar 2025)