Bulawayo City Council (BCC) says it has adequate measures in place to manage cases of hantavirus should there be an outbreak in the city.
Chairperson of the Health, Housing and Education Committee, Ward 23 Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo, said the city’s health department has an emergency response team in place and that Thorngrove Infectious Disease Hospital is prepared to handle possible cases.
Khumalo was responding to a query raised by Ward 28 Councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu, who sought clarity on the city’s readiness in the event of an outbreak.
Ndlovu said there was growing concern due to the movement of people between Zimbabwe, particularly Bulawayo, and South Africa.
“We have been receiving media reports from South Africa about the outbreak of hantavirus. We understand that this is a disease affecting people travelling from one country to another, especially those on cruise ships,” he said.
“When we look at our economy here in Bulawayo, we have a substantial number of people working on cruise ships. We also have a vibrant relationship with South Africa, with significant movement of people between the two countries.
“What measures have been put in place to prepare us in the event of an outbreak? Have residents been educated about the disease and how to protect themselves? We also have an infectious disease centre at Thorngrove — how prepared is it to handle such cases should the need arise?”
In response, Khumalo said the local authority was working closely with health authorities to monitor developments and prepare for any possible outbreak.
“We are liaising with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care to monitor the progression of the disease,” she said.
“As a province, we also have an emergency response team that meets twice a week in preparation for a possible outbreak. Our infectious diseases hospital at Thorngrove can admit up to 200 patients.”
According to the WHO, eight cases, including three deaths, had been reported as of Thursday, with five of the cases confirmed as hantavirus.
WHO said the hantavirus involved is the Andes virus, the only strain known to allow limited human-to-human transmission through close and prolonged contact.