In an exclusive interview, City of Harare Health Department Services Director, Stanley Mungofa, said Glen View was the epicentre of the diarrheal disease, which recorded about 300 cases by end of November 2012.
“Glen View remains the most affected area with 1 413 cases and 34 confirmed cases. Five people have died since the outbreak,” he said.
He added that although typhoid was on the increase, the number of cases in the most affected area were less than last year.
“This year Glen View recorded 1 413 cases by January 21, compared to Kuwadzana which recorded 2 800 cases over the same period last year,” said Mungofa. “Other affected areas include Mufakose, Budiriro, Glen Norah and Kuwadzana.”
Mungofa said there were reaction teams at district levels monitoring the situation on the ground to ensure that the disease was contained.
“These are multidisciplinary teams which react to any outbreak situation in our five environmental health districts across the city. They conduct case management, monitor water and sanitation issues in the districts, conduct health promotion and awareness, make sure that medication is readily available and epidemiology,” he said.
Mungofa added that the rapid response teams meet with the city’s top health management officals every Wednesday to review the typhoid situation and trends.
He said there was yet to be a case of cholera recorded in Harare. By the end of the rainy season in April 2012, a total of 6 000 typhoid cases had been recorded.
Post published in: Health