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Paidamoyo Chipunza Health Reporter
The number of people treated of common diarrhoea have begun to drop after reaching a peak of over 14 000 cases a single week in mid winter, a senior official in the Health and Child Welfare Ministry has said. Deaths have also decreased from a high of about 20 people each week to five deaths last week. Director of epidemiology and disease control Dr Portia Manangazira said cases began to peak in May with about 14 000 cases reported each week.

She attributed the increase to rota virus, which usually affects children in winter season.

“Generally, cases of common diarrhoea are on the increase. If we check the trends for 2011, 2012 and 2013 compared to previous weeks, cases seem to be on a sustained downward trend,” Dr Manangazira said.

According to the Government’s weekly disease surveillance report, about 11 643 cases were reported in mid July, and an additional 8 325 cases were reported the following week.

About 5 982 cases were reported in the first week of this month.