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Victor Maphosa Mash East Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has confirmed that the three Johane Marange apostolic sect members who died at Murehwa Centre last week were suffering from cholera. The three did not seek medical attention due to their religious beliefs.

Eight people presenting symptoms of cholera were admitted at Murehwa Hospital and Dandara Clinic.
In an interview with The Herald, Mashonaland East provincial epidemiology and disease control officer Dr Paul Matsvimbo said two of the eight patients had tested positive for cholera.

“Yes, we did tests on two patients who were admitted at Murehwa Hospital and they tested positive for the water-borne disease.
“These two are related to three people who died recently after failing to seek medical attention.

“After realising that they were not well, the now deceased visited their church shrine to seek divine healing and they all died,” Dr Matsvimbo said.

He said the eight patients were responding well to treatment and were now out of danger.
“We received eight reports in Murehwa after the death of these three, and four were admitted at Murehwa Hospital and the other four at Dandara Clinic.

“All of them have responded well to medication and have since been discharged and they are out of danger. However, we urge members of the public to urgently seek medical attention whenever they suspect or have any symptoms related to cholera. Cholera is a dangerous disease which can kill in a very short period of time,” he said.

Dr Matsvimbo said health officials have since visited the Johane Marange apostolic shrine and disinfected the area to preventfurther outbreaks.

“We visited the shrine because one of the people died there, and we managed to disinfect the whole area including their water sources.

“As of today no further reports have been made and we hope the situation remains as it is. We are also ready and prepared to deal with any further outbreaks,” he said.

He urged members of the public to practise good hygiene.