Deadly TB hits Epworth amid worsening health crises

By Alex Bell
11 March 2010

A deadly strain of tuberculosis has reportedly hit Epworth, amid a rapidly worsening health crisis and critical shortages of food across the country.

One case of the deadly multi-drug resistant TB strain has been confirmed in the high density area of Epworth and two more people in the same area are suspected to be infected. Zakaria Mwatia, from Epworth Clinic, confirmed the cases to local press, explain how the disease attacks those with already weakened immune systems. Drug resistant TB is believed to have an 80% mortality rate and has been created by TB sufferers not finishing their course of medication. In a country where a steady supply for both TB and HIV medication is often not available, many people’s health is already compromised.

With no system in place to ensure that people are taking their medication properly, many are simply electing to stop their drug courses because of food shortages. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an urgent warning about impending widespread hunger, paying particular concern to people living with HIV. The group has renewed its plea for funds explaining how hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans are in need or urgent food assistance. According to the most recent figures, a conservative estimate of 2.17 million Zimbabweans are currently in need of food aid and this number is set to rise on the back of an expected failed 2010 harvest.

“In some parts of the country, the food situation is as bad as many of our volunteers and staff have ever seen it,” said the group’s Matthew Cochrane.

Cochrane continued that the Red Cross is particularly concerned about the impact of the existing and looming food crises on people living with or affected by HIV. He explained that so many Zimbabweans living with HIV have stopped taking their anti-retroviral medication, “because the drugs are too toxic without food.”

“Once people do this, their situation deteriorates incredibly quickly and they become susceptible to other serious illnesses,” Cochrane explained.

He said that although the situation is obviously critical, the international donor community has been slow to help aid groups, because of the existence of the unity government. He explained that donors seemed to be under the impression that everything in Zimbabwe was now OK, when it was clearly not. He pointed out that despite the coalition, most of the population has not felt any benefit.

“People don’t have access to money to buy what food is available, and most people don’t have jobs,” Cochrane explained. “Our message is that the world can’t just forget about these people.”

Meanwhile, another person has succumbed to typhoid fever in Mabvuka, where the disease has already claimed five other lives. The five deaths were previously believed to have been caused by malaria, but the Harare City Council’s health department has confirmed that the deaths are in fact linked to a typhoid outbreak. City health services director Dr Stanley Mungofa said that at least forty other people are believed to be infected in the Mabvuka area.

“Some people might be carrying the bacteria, but do not show any signs of
the water-borne disease so examinations will assist to detect carriers and
potential cases early,” he told local press.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) says the number of typhoid infections is closer to 50, a number which includes many school children from Simudzai Primary school. CHRA explained in a statement that residents suspect the typhoid outbreak has been caused by the poor quality of water that is being consumed in the suburb. Although the suburb has been receiving consistent water supplies from the City of Harare for the past two weeks, residents are apparently still skeptical about using the water for drinking purposes. CHRA said that most residents are now fetching water from wells and the boreholes drilled by aids groups.
Typhoid symptoms usually develop one to three weeks after exposure to the
bacteria.

Typhoid is a mainly water-borne, bacterial disease, similar to cholera, which is transmitted by eating or drinking anything contaminated with the waste of an infected person. It is characterised by a fever, sweating and diarrhoea. Untreated typhoid fever manifests itself through a headache, coughing, nosebleeds and abdominal pain.

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