CHOLERA CASES RISE TO 1,622 WITH 30 DEATHS AS GOVT RELEASES K13 MILLION FOR SAFE WATER - HEALTH MINISTER

By Pauline Ngozoh

Minister of Health Hon. Roma Chilengi has told Parliament that Zambia had recorded 1,622 cholera cases since 28 July 2026, with 228 laboratory-confirmed cases and 30 deaths as at 28 October 2026.

Presenting a Ministerial Statement on the Cholera Situation in the country to the National Assembly, Prof. Chilengi said of the cumulative cases, 1,488 patients have recovered and been discharged, while 104 remained admitted. In the last 24-hour reporting period, 74 new cases were reported from 12 districts with no new deaths. The outbreak has affected 20 districts in six provinces, with Lusaka Province accounting for 1,090 cases, Central 298, Luapula 133, Northern 88, Southern 11 and Copperbelt 2. Mumbwa and Chisamba are the two newly affected districts with one and two cases respectively.

Of the 30 deaths recorded, 16 occurred in communities before patients could reach a health facility, while 14 occurred in health facilities. The Minister said Government has convened a whole-of-Government response through the National Epidemic Preparedness, Prevention, Control and Management Committee (NEPPC&MC) to strengthen multisectoral coordination. She disclosed that the Ministry of Finance and National Planning has released K13 million to the Ministry responsible for Water Development and Sanitation to support emergency supply of safe water.

On vaccination, Prof. Chilengi said following approval of 782,147 doses of oral cholera vaccine by the International Coordinating Group, 709,018 eligible people aged one year and above have been vaccinated, representing 91 percent coverage. Of these, 555,472 were reached in 10 wards of Lusaka District, 134,699 in four wards of Chibombo and 18,847 in one ward of Chongwe. She appealed to Members of Parliament to support community mobilisation and reinforce prevention messages such as drinking safe water, boiling water where safety is uncertain, handwashing with soap, use of proper sanitation and seeking care early for sudden watery diarrhoea.