BackgroundSchistosomiasis and STH are among the list of neglected tropical diseases considered for control by the WHO. Although both diseases are endemic in Zimbabwe, no nationwide control interventions have been implemented. For this reason in 2009 the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Care included the two diseases in the 2009–2013 National Health Strategy highlighting the importance of understanding the distribution and burden of the diseases as a prerequisite for elimination interventions. It is against this background that a national survey was conducted.MethodologyA countrywide cross-sectional survey was carried out in 280 primary schools in 68 districts between September 2010 and August 2011. Schistosoma haematobium was diagnosed using the urine filtration technique. Schistosoma mansoni and STH (hookworms, Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides) were diagnosed using both the Kato Katz and formol ether concentration techniques.Main findingsSchistosomiasis was more prevalent country-wide (22.7%) than STH (5.5%). The prevalence of S. haematobium was 18.0% while that of S. mansoni was 7.2%. Hookworms were the most common STH with a prevalence of 3.2% followed by A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura with prevalence of 2.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The prevalence of heavy infection intensity as defined by WHO for any schistosome species was 5.8% (range 0%–18.3% in districts). Only light to moderate infection intensities were observed for STH species. The distribution of schistosomiasis and STH varied significantly between provinces, districts and schools (p<0.001). Overall, the prevalence of co-infection with schistosomiasis and STH was 1.5%. The actual co-endemicity of schistosomiasis and STH was observed in 43 (63.2%) of the 68 districts screened.Conclusion and recommendationsThis study provided comprehensive baseline data on the distribution of schistosomiasis and STH that formed the basis for initiating a national control and elimination programme for these two neglected tropical diseases in Zimbabwe.

Abstract. In 2008-2009, Zimbabwe experienced an unprecedented cholera outbreak with more than 4,000 deaths. More than 60% of deaths occurred at the community level. We conducted descriptive and case-control studies to describe community deaths. Cases were in cholera patients who died outside health facilities. Two surviving cholera patients were matched by age, time of symptom onset, and location to each case-patient. Proxies completed questionnaires regarding mortality risk factors. Cholera awareness and importance of rehydration was high but availability of oral rehydration salts was low. A total of 55 case-patients were matched to 110 controls. The odds of death were higher among males (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 5.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-14.30) and persons with larger household sizes (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.00-1.46). Receiving home-based rehydration (AOR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.06-0.71) and visiting cholera treatment centers (CTCs) (AOR = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.02-0.23) were protective. Receiving cholera information was associated with home-based rehydration and visiting CTCs. When we compared cases and controls who did not go to CTCs, males were still at increased odds of death (AOR = 5.00, 95% CI = 1.56-16.10) and receiving home-based rehydration (AOR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.04-0.53) and being married (AOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.08-0.83) were protective. Inability to receive home-based rehydration or visit CTCs was associated with mortality. Community education must reinforce the importance of prompt rehydration and CTC referral.

This paper details the phenotypic, genotypic, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns of 88 Vibrio cholerae strains from Zimbabwe. Of the 88 strains, 83 were classified as "altered El Tor" and 5 as "hybrid El Tor" strains. All of the strains were susceptible to tetracycline, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and azithromycin by disc diffusion, but susceptibility to tetracycline and azithromycin diminished when observed using the MIC method.

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Birth weight patterns were studied in three different socio-economic areas, i.e. commercial farming area (CFA), rural area (RA), and urban area (UA), in a community-based (n = 684) and hospital-based (n = 314) fashion. Mean weight and low birth weight proportions were similar in all three areas, although 17 per cent of all babies were premature in the CFA compared with 7 per cent in the RA (P = 0.005). In the community the mean birth weight was 3.0 +/- 0.1 kg and 2.97 +/- 0.09 kg in hospital. The proportion of newborns weighing less than 2.5 kg was 9 per cent in the community and 15 per cent in hospital (P = 0.006), whereas 18 and 16 per cent were smaller than or equal to 2.5 kg, respectively (P = 0.48).

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