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Typhoid, a bacterial infection passed on through contaminated food and drinking water has hit the southern part of Harare, Glen View 3, the City of Harare has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Monday, the City Council said four cases have so far been confirmed in the area with three of them being of children under the age of seven and the other one 17 years.
“The City of Harare wishes to inform residents of the presence of four confirmed positive typhoid cases which are already under treatment and responding positively. Three cases are children under seven and a 17-year-old all from Glen View 3,” the statement reads.
The local council has further urged residents with symptoms of headache, fever, abdominal pain constipation or diarrhoea to present themselves for medical attention.
“Residents with the following symptoms should seek medical attention: Headache, Fever, Abdominal pain and constipation or diarrhoea.”
Typhoid is caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria and it can easily spread through contaminated food and water or through close contact.
Treatment includes antibiotics and fluids.
The majority of Harare suburbs are current facing acute shortages of clean water with some resorting to unprotected sources of water – a haven of water borne diseases.
The City Council has however requested the government to declare water scarcity a disaster and appeal to donors for help as the situation is worsening every day.
The shortage of water in the city is as a result of shortage of water treatment chemicals leading to the closure of water supplies like the Jaffray Waterworks which closed about two weeks ago.
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