Zambia records 20 new cases

Minister of Health Elijah Muchima has disclosed that the country has recorded 20 new cholera cases and no deaths, in the last 24 hours. Muchima says that these cases are from four districts including Lusaka which recorded 11, Mpulungu two, Nakonde with four, while Choma recorded three new cholera cases. The Minister explained that dose one targeted 35,700 eligible population of which 35,396 were reached out of which 32,987 were reached with dose two.

Muchima made an appeal to the people of Chainda community to complete the full course of cholera vaccination for maximum protective value. “As of February 3rd, 2026, the country has recorded a cumulative total of 861 cholera cases and 16 deaths. Seven deaths occurred in health facilities and nine in community settings, underscoring the continued importance of early symptom recognition and prompt care seeking,” he said.

He indicated that currently, seven districts continue to experience active cholera transmission, including Mpulungu, Lusaka, Chilanga, Nakonde, Solwezi, Nkeyema and Choma. And the Minister revealed that from January 2025 to date, Zambia has recorded 2,549 suspected measles cases. He explained that the specimens were collected from 1,109 cases and about 243 were laboratory-confirmed, yielding a positivity rate of 22 percent, stating the need for sustained vigilance and improved specimen referral.

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Meanwhile, in terms of Mpox, Dr. Muchima said that since the beginning of 2024, the country has recorded 2,261 suspected and 399 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases, with three deaths. “Mpox transmission persists in several provinces, with higher severity observed in the Eastern Province,” Dr Muchima said.

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