Zimbabwe has seen a worrying surge in disease cases over the past week, with malaria, diarrhoea, and influenza leading, according to the latest Weekly Disease Surveillance Report released on 29 May by the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the week ending 18 May 2025.
A total of 9,733 new malaria cases and 22 deaths were reported across the country. The worst-hit areas included Mashonaland Central, which recorded 4,172 cases, and Mashonaland West with 1,901 cases.
Among the total infections, 1,079 involved children under the age of five. The reported deaths occurred at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare (6), Guruve District in Mashonaland Central (3), and in Manicaland’s Mutare and Chipinge districts (one each).
There were also deaths recorded in Mashonaland East, although the specific number remains unclear. Cumulatively, the country has recorded 82,940 malaria cases and 275 deaths so far this year.
Cases of common diarrhoea also continue to rise, with 4,309 new cases and four deaths reported during the same week. Three of the deaths occurred at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and one at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital, all in Harare Province.
Children under five accounted for 38% of these new cases, once again highlighting the vulnerability of young children to preventable diseases.
The highest numbers were reported in Mashonaland West and Manicaland. The year’s total now stands at 138,458 diarrhoea cases and 62 deaths.
Suspected influenza, or the common cold, has also been on the rise, with 5,099 cases reported this week, although no deaths have been recorded.
The majority of these cases came from Mashonaland West (1,831) and Manicaland (1,361). Since the beginning of the year, a total of 90,248 suspected cases have been logged nationwide.
Meanwhile, five new cases of anthrax were reported in the Midlands Province—two each in Gokwe North and South, and one in Kwekwe. There have been no deaths linked to anthrax this year, and the cumulative case count now sits at 61.
Suspected measles cases were also reported in small numbers across the country, with 19 new cases emerging from Harare, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland North, Midlands, Mashonaland West, Manicaland, and Bulawayo.
No measles-related deaths have been recorded so far in 2025, and the cumulative number of suspected cases stands at 266.
Dog bites continue to pose a public health concern, with 590 cases reported this week. Of these, 121 involved vaccinated dogs, 98 involved unvaccinated dogs, and 379 involved dogs of unknown vaccination status.
The highest number of incidents came from Masvingo and Manicaland. Thankfully, no deaths have been recorded from dog bites this year, despite a cumulative total of 12,548 cases.
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