By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia has recorded a cumulative total of 861 cholera cases and 16 deaths as of 3rd February, 2026.
Speaking at a media briefing, Minister of Health Dr. Elijah Muchima revealed that seven deaths occurred in health facilities, while nine were recorded in community settings.
Currently, seven districts continue to experience active cholera transmission: Mpulungu (second wave), Lusaka, Chilanga, Nakonde, Solwezi (second wave), Nkeyema, and Choma. In the last 24 hours, 20 new cholera cases were reported from four districts, including Lusaka 11, Mpulungu 2, Nakonde 4, and Choma 3, with zero deaths.
Lusaka District alone has recorded a cumulative total of 170 cases and two deaths, with a case fatality rate of about 1.2 percent, confirming its role as the current driver of national transmission.
Dr. Muchima revealed that Northern Province, particularly Mpulungu District, remains the epicentre of the outbreak, accounting for about 70 percent of all reported cases, with 570 cases recorded across five districts.
“Transmission in this region has been prolonged, with periods of decline followed by resurgences, including a second wave in Mpulungu.”
“These patterns reflect residual environmental contamination, cross-border population movement, fishing-related activities, and persistent gaps in water, sanitation, and hygiene,” Dr. Muchima said.
The Minister explained that from November 2025, transmission shifted southwards and became more centralized, with outbreaks detected in Monze District and later in Lusaka Province. He said this reflects urban and peri-urban spread linked to population mobility, informal settlements, and sanitation challenges.
“While several districts have met the 28-day zero-reporting threshold, Lusaka province is now the primary focus of transmission, with low-level, geographically widespread sporadic cases across multiple sub-districts and health facilities,” he stated.
Dr. Muchima noted that the three cases recorded in Choma confirm a new outbreak, increasing the number of active outbreak districts to seven and making Choma the third affected area in Southern Province, nearly 70 days after the last case was reported in Monze.
He added that Nakonde District, despite reporting relatively few cases, has recorded a disproportionately high case fatality rate, pointing to late detection and community-level vulnerabilities.
As part of the response, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with partners, has deployed and administered two doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to at-risk populations in Chainda to supplement other high-level interventions aimed at combating the outbreak.
According to the Minister, the first dose targeted 35,700 eligible people, of whom 35,396—representing 99.1 percent—were reached.
“Out of the 35,396 population that received first dose, so far 32,987 (93.2%) were reached with dose 2. In order to attain maximum protection of the eligible recipients, the Ministry is scheduled to administer dose 3 from 17th to 22nd February, 2026. We appeal to the people of Chainda community to complete the full course of cholera vaccination for maximum protective value,” Dr. Muchima urged.
“Further we urge the public to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating, preparing food, or after using the toilet, cook food properly, keep it covered, and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, keep your environment clean and dispose of waste in designated areas, avoid unsafe food, visit the nearest health facility immediately if symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting develop; avoid self-medication.
