Zambia sees drop in new cholera cases

LUSAKA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said Thursday that its interventions to tackle a cholera outbreak have started bearing fruits with marked reduction of new cases in the last two days.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya said at a press briefing that new cholera cases have dropped to an average of 80 in the last two days from a high of 164, representing a 50-percent reduction.

"We have continued to report marked reduction in the number of new cases and this is good," Chilufya said.

According to him, out of the cumulative 2,840 cases recorded, the ministry has successfully treated 2,610, with over 60 deaths, mostly due to failure to seek medical treatment in time.

The minister said the launch of the oral cholera vaccination on Wednesday was another move to accelerate the fight to the epidemic.

He also advised the public to continue observing high standards of hygiene in order to contain the waterborne disease. Enditem