Zimbabwe > Country Background and Current Challenges
In 2008 – 2009, a deadly cholera outbreak struck in Zimbabwe, affecting 55 out of 62 districts and killing more than 4,000 people. It was one of the largest outbreaks ever documented in sub-Saharan Africa. Unlike previous outbreaks, the 2008 – 2009 cholera affected major urban areas, which had become vulnerable because of the degraded conditions of their water plants, broken sewers, and uncollected waste.
The outbreak spread rapidly in urban areas and was also carried to rural areas by people infected with the disease. Food insecurity and a lack of health services compounded the crisis situation.
The emergency situation has stabilised since mid-2009, but Zimbabwe still has a high level of critical needs in both urban and rural areas. Although the cholera outbreak has ended, there is a real threat of future outbreaks if existing water and sanitation infrastructure is not upgraded in rural and urban areas.