THE country’s public health system is facing renewed pressure due to a surge in communicable diseases, with malaria, diarrhoea, and respiratory infections being the top concerns.
The diseases have cumulatively killed close to 360 people so far this year. According to the latest ministry of Health and Child Care’s disease surveillance report, the country recorded 6 768 malaria infections nationwide in the week ending May 25.
Mashonaland Central Province accounted for nearly half of the total cases, with 3 003 infections, followed by Mashonaland West with 1 107 cases. Children under five years old were particularly vulnerable, accounting for 13 percent of all malaria infections.
The disease claimed 18 lives during the week, bringing the cumulative total for 2025 to 89 708 infections and 293 deaths. Diarrhoeal diseases also continued to affect thousands, with 4 356 new cases and two deaths reported.
Children under five bore the brunt, accounting for nearly 40 percent of cases. The country has recorded 142 814 diarrhoea cases and 64 deaths so far this year. In addition, 5 861 new suspected influenza cases were reported, with no fatalities.
Dog bite incidents remained a concern, with 492 cases recorded in the week under review. The ministry hammered on the importance of early detection, community education, and preventive healthcare to curtail the spread of these diseases. — New Ziana