Football stadium converted into treatment facility, following severe Cholera outbreak in Zambia

Zambia is grappling with a severe cholera outbreak that has claimed over 400 lives and infected 10,000, prompting nationwide school closures.

The government has converted a football stadium into a treatment facility and initiated a mass vaccination program through the national disaster management agency.

With cholera detected in nearly half of Zambia’s districts, the Health Ministry records over 400 daily cases, posing a significant threat to the nation’s health security. The fatality rate, at around 4%, is alarmingly high, according to UNICEF.

Southern African countries, including Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, have witnessed over 200,000 cases and 3,000 deaths in cholera outbreaks since the start of 2023. In Zambia, 229 victims died before receiving medical attention. Cholera remains a critical concern, particularly in developing nations.