More than 16 cases of typhoid have been recorded in Kabwe in the last three days.
The Central Province capital has experienced heavy rain and flooding in the past three weeks in which pit latrines have collapsed, while some residents have abandoned their flooded houses.
Some affected families in Ngungu and Chimanimani townships attributed the outbreak of the disease to the alleged failure by the provincial administration to relocate families to drier areas.
Provincial medical officer, Dickson Suya confirmed the outbreak of typhoid in an interview in Kabwe yesterday.
Dr Suya said most of the patients were admitted to Kabwe Mine and Kabwe General hospitals.
Typhoid fever is caused by a bacterium (germ) called Salmonella typhi.
This bacterium may contaminate food or drink in areas of poor sanitation. The symptoms include high fever, diarrhoea, and vomiting.
Sources said most of the patients who were taken to the hospitals in critical condition, have since stabilised.
Some of the relatives of the admitted patients claimed that they had not received assistance from the administration since the flooding started in February.
A resident from Chimanimani, who is nursing her 24-year-old daughter, said though the Ministry of Health had provided chlorine, there was need for the provincial administration to take other preventive measures such as spraying the pit latrines.
- RSOE Edis
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