09/02/2026
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE NATIONAL CHOLERA SITUATION AND OTHER PRIORITY PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS
BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH
HON. DR ELIJAH MUCHIMA, MP
MONDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY, 2025
Fellow Citizens, Members of the Press,
I wish to update the nation on the current public health situation, focusing on the cholera outbreak, the impacts of seasonal flooding, and other key health threats under close surveillance, including measles, Mpox, and emerging global risks.
Cholera
Zambia has been responding to a cholera outbreak first detected on 5 August 2025 in Mpulungu District of Northern Province. Since then, 20 districts across eight provinces have reported cases. Luapula and Eastern Provinces have remained free of confirmed cholera cases throughout this period. As of 3 February 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.
Fellow citizens, the cholera outbreak has evolved over time and across geography. Northern Province, particularly Mpulungu District, remains the epicentre, accounting for about 70% of all reported cases, with 570 cases 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. From November 2025, transmission shifted southwards and became more centralised, with outbreaks detected in Monze District and later in Lusaka Province. This reflects the 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.
Currently, 7 districts continue to experience active cholera transmission. These are Mpulungu (second wave), Lusaka, Chilanga, Nakonde, Solwezi (second wave), Nkeyema and Choma. In the last 24 hours, twenty (20) new cholera cases were reported from four districts: Lusaka (11), Mpulungu (2), Nakonde (4), and Choma (3), with no deaths recorded in the last 24 hours. The three cases in Choma confirm a new outbreak, increasing the number of active outbreak districts to seven (7) and making Choma the third affected district in Southern Province, nearly 70 days after the last case was reported in Monze.
Lusaka district alone has recorded 170 cases and two deaths, with a case fatality rate of about 1,2 %, confirming its role as the current driver of national transmission. Nakonde district, despite reporting few cases, has recorded a disproportionately high case fatality rate, pointing to late detection and community-level vulnerabilities.
These are being addressed through intensified surveillance, community engagement, and support to frontline health workers.
As part of the response, the Ministry of Health with its partners has so far deployed and administered 2 doses of oral cholera vaccine (OCV) to the at risky population living in Chainda to supplement other high-level interventions to combat the outbreak. Dose 1 targeted 35,700 eligible population of which 35,396 (99.1%) 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. Further we urge the public to:
1. Practice Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water, especially before eating, preparing food, or after using the toilet.
2. Handle Food Safely: Cook food properly, keep it covered, and wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
3. Clean Surroundings: Keep your environment clean and dispose of waste in designated areas.
4. Avoid Unsafe Food: Do not consume food from unauthorized or unsanitary vendors.
5. Seek Medical Care Promptly: Visit the nearest health facility immediately if symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting develop; avoid self-medication.
Flooding
Alongside the ongoing cholera outbreak, the country is experiencing above-normal rainfall and localized flooding during the 2025 to 2026 rainy season, partly due to La Niña weather patterns and climate variability. Please note that Zambia’s situation is part of a broader southern African flooding emergency, with an estimated 1.3 million people facing humanitarian needs.
Provinces most affected by floods include Eastern, Southern, Western, Lusaka, and Central Provinces. More than 40,000 people in Eastern Province temporarily lost access to safe drinking water after flooding of a primary treatment facility. More than 340 households have been impacted, with at least 98 people displaced, mainly in Chama South District. In Southern Province, flash floods damaged about 846 hectares of farmland, affecting livelihoods and food security. Most of the affected households are made of mud, poles, and thatched roofs of grass, which increase their vulnerability during heavy rains and strong winds.
Five flood-related deaths have been reported, including two in Lumezi, one in Kabwe, and two in Lusaka's Kanyama and Misisi areas.
Fellow citizens, members of the media, despite these public health and livelihood threats, our disease surveillance systems remain fully active. Indicator-based and Event-Based Surveillance are functioning nationwide, actively monitoring the situation and informing our multi-sectoral emergency preparedness and response. Additionally, all the health facilities in affected districts remain operational. Outpatient attendance is stable, with no service disruptions reported and no surge in flood-related communicable diseases. However, access to healthcare services remains limited in some isolated areas, particularly parts of Chama District, where flooded rivers continue to hinder outreach and rapid assessments. These challenges are being addressed through coordinated district and provincial actions.
Measles
Ladies and gentlemen, from January 2025 to date, Zambia has recorded 2,549 suspected measles cases. Specimens were collected from 1,109 cases and about 243 cases were laboratory-confirmed, yielding a positivity rate of 22%. In 2025, most suspected cases were reported from Mungwi, Chiengi, Mwinilunga, Luampa, Ikelenge, Kanchibiya, and Chavuma Districts. In 2026, measles case numbers remain low, with sporadic cases recorded in Lusaka, Chitambo, and Mushindamo, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance and improved specimen referral.
Mpox
Fellow citizens, members of the media, since the beginning of 2024, the country has recorded 2,261 suspected and 399 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases, with three deaths representing a case fatality rate of 0.8%. Mpox transmission persists in several provinces, with higher severity observed in the Eastern Province. Although Mpox is no longer considered to be an international health emergency , it has not been eliminated, and continued surveillance, diagnostics, vaccination, and community engagement remain necessary.
Global Health Alert-Nipah Virus
I would like to inform the nation about a recent global health alert issued by the World Health Organization on January 30, 2026, regarding Nipah virus infection in India. Two laboratory-confirmed cases among healthcare workers were reported in West Bengal, with no further spread detected nationwide. The World Health Organization assesses the risk as moderate at the sub-national level, but low at the national, regional, and global levels. Zambia continues to enhance preparedness for emerging outbreak threats through a proactive, multisectoral approach. A national readiness assessment is underway in accordance with the International Health Regulations, and the Ministry would like to assure the country that we have the laboratory capacity to detect Nipah virus through our national viral surveillance platform.
In closing, I urge all citizens to stay alert, follow public health guidance, and seek health care early. The government will continue to work closely with communities, health workers, and partners to protect lives and safeguard the nation's health.
Thank you.
