HARARE, Zimbabwe, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- An epidemic of cholera in Zimbabwe is far from under control and could zoom past 60,000 cases within days, United Nations officials say.
The figure is a worst-case scenario, World Health Organization officials said in a report released Friday, based on the calculations that half of Zimbabwe's population of 12 million is at risk and that there is a 1 percent cholera occurence rate.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in Geneva Friday that as of Jan. 21, some 48,623 cholera cases had been reported in Zimbabwe with 2,755 deaths. But, experts said that a 20 percent increase in cholera deaths over in the past week showed the rate of infection was increasing.
"Because of the severity of this outbreak, we fear that it will take many more weeks to get it under control," said Tony Maryon, the head of the IFRC's team in Zimbabwe. "We are committed to continue working alongside public authorities to achieve this and to make sure that once this outbreak is under control that the Zimbabwean people and authorities have the resources and expertise they need to reduce the risk of future crisis."
