Zimbabwe cholera outbreak deepens

Published: Nov. 21, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Order reprints
HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Health officials say a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe has claimed nearly 300 lives.

The World Health Organization told the BBC Friday that the disease has sickened about 6,000 people and is likely to spread.

"The outbreak is likely to continue as the water and sanitation situation is worsening, with severe shortages of potable water, sewage and waste disposal problems reported in most of the populated areas," the agency said in a written statement.

The outbreak is considered the worst bout of cholera to strike the African nation in nearly a decade and has been aggravated by a shortage of medical supplies and personnel.

Zimbabwe's government said the situation was being confronted and pegged the death toll at 90; however the BBC said several government hospitals have been closed in recent weeks making it difficult for sick people to receive treatment.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Admin. put off preobe of Afghan killings (4 min)
Santoro wins twice to reach semifinals (10 min)
U.S. urged to probe extremists in military (12 min)
Rain postpones PGA John Deere second round (17 min)
Christie Kerr leads Women's U.S. Open (20 min)
$350 million for H1N1 flu preparedness (23 min)
Deadly day for British in Afghanistan (28 min)
fark
Photoshop these creepy earrings
Patronizing Tijuana hookers while on drugs may be unhealthy, according to Dr. N.S. Sherlock, of...
Defense lawyers request words like "polygamy,""cult" and "compound" not be used in their client's...
TSG Mugshot roundup: Twin billing
Barbie-Con visitors split on major issue: Are you allowed to open her box and play with it?
It's been 10 years since "The Blair Witch Project." Where were you when this crappy, one-joke, overhyped...