Nakonde battles cholera, Kitwe confirms Mpox case
By Sharon Siame
Zambia has recorded an outbreak of cholera in Nakonde District and the second case of MPOX in Kitwe.
Acting Minister of Health, DOUGLAS SYAKALIMA says five Cholera cases were confirmed at Nakonde Urban Clinic on December 26, 2024.
During a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. SYAKALIMA said the first three cases, a husband, wife and son were admitted on December 24, presenting with diarrhoea, vomiting and shock.
He said two additional cases, a son and a domestic worker were recorded on December 26 and that laboratory results confirmed cholera.
Mr. SYAKALIMA said two additional cases but from the initial household have been recorded TODAY, bringing the total number of cholera cases to seven.
He said the Ministry of Health has intensified surveillance and conducted contact tracing for 33 individuals, chlorinated water sources and disinfected homes.
And Mr. SYAKALIMA said that the second MPOX case involves a 34-year-old female from Kitwe, who presented symptoms of rash, fever, swollen lymph nodes and oral ulcers on December 21, 2024.
He said that the patient was earlier misdiagnosed with chickenpox while in Lumwana, North Western Province but that laboratory tests later confirmed MPOX.
Mr. SYAKALIMA said that the patient’s husband, who works in a neighbouring country with confirmed MPOX cases, experienced similar symptoms earlier in December.
He said both are now stable and under close monitoring.
