01/10/2026
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30TH SEPTEMBER, 2026
Countrymen, women and children,
Esteemed cooperating partners, members of the press, ladies and gentlemen.
I address the nation today to declare a new outbreak of cholera in exercise of the powers conferred upon the Minister responsible for Health under the Public Health Act Chapter 295 of the Laws of Zambia read together with the Public Health Regulations including Statutory Instruments Number 29 of 2017 and Number 5 of 2024.
In this current outbreak, index case was initially identified on 13th August 2026, following the laboratory confirmation of Vibrio cholerae in a patient who travelled from Chibombo District and was admitted and managed at Apollo Mini Hospital in Lusaka. The detection of this case provided the initial indication of cholera transmission involving Chibombo District and prompted activation of surveillance and investigation in the district. Following this initial detection, suspected cholera cases subsequently began to be identified within Chibombo District. The earliest clusters were particularly associated with the Mwanjuni Health Facility catchment area, where additional cases were detected towards the end of August 2026.
As at 29th September 2026, seven districts across five provinces have reported a total of 304 cases of which 62 have been laboratory confirmed; 35 patients are currently receiving treatment and 230 have been discharged. Sadly, 11 people have died, out of which eight died in the community and 3 in the health facilities.
The affected districts are Lusaka, Chilanga, and Chongwe in Lusaka Province; Chibombo in Central Province; Chiengi in Luapula Province; Nsama in Northern Province; and Chikankata in Southern Province.
β’ Chibombo District has recorded 109 cases, with 11 confirmed, four community
