Malaria Kills 279 In Zimbabwe Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Faizan Hashmi Published June 30, 2020 | 04:48 PM
At least 279 people have died and more than 300,000 people have been infected with malaria in Zimbabwe since the peak season of the the disease in January
HARARE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jun, 2020 ) :At least 279 people have died and more than 300,000 people have been infected with malaria in Zimbabwe since the peak season of the the disease in January.
The outbreak comes at a time when Zimbabwe is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic which has since infected 574 people leading to seven fatalities.
Zimbabwe's National Malaria Coordinator Joseph Mberi said Tuesday that COVID-19 social distancing restrictions had deterred many people especially in rural areas to seek medical attention in time, further complicating the situation.
Mberi said the COVID-19 outbreak had also forced health workers to be skeptical in dealing with people presenting malaria symptoms which are similar to the pandemic.
He said the coronavirus pandemic was a hindrance to early testing and treatment because health workers did not have adequate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
"In other areas we have village health workers who are supposed to treat but those have been affected by the restrictions of social distancing as they are afraid. We still have a challenge of adequate PPE in the country so that is the context," he said.
Malaria is among the top causes of illness and deaths in Zimbabwe, with over half of the population living in high-risk areas.
Transmission of the disease in the country is seasonal and mainly occurs during the rainy season between November and April.
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
2 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
2 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
2 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
2 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
2 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
2 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
3 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
3 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
4 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
4 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
5 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
5 hours ago