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GWERU City Council has allayed fears of an outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases and says it is on high alert to deal with any potential water-borne diseases that may erupt in this rainy season.

Speaking on the sidelines of the commissioning of Mtapa Maternal Clinic on Wednesday, Gweru acting town clerk Mr Douglas Chikwekwe said council has deployed health teams to respond to potential cholera and typhoid outbreaks.

“As for diarrhoeal diseases, we have not had any cholera or typhoid cases to date. We have deployed our health teams to respond to the threats of cholera and typhoid by giving health education to the residents on personal hygiene, food hygiene, environmental hygiene as well as proper water storage techniques,” he said.

Mr Chikwekwe said Gweru was not affected by recent cholera cases that were reported in some parts of the country.

“The city council is highly prepared and we have a low disease burden and case fatalities as evidenced during the 2008 – 2009 cholera outbreak where Gweru City recorded a one percent fatality.”

He said during the 2016-17 suspected typhoid outbreak, there were no confirmed cases in Gweru as compared to other towns. He said continued health education and promotion have been beneficial.  —Herald Reporter.