The Ministry of Health has heightened surveillance to establish the cause of some diarrhoea cases recently recorded in Lusaka district.
A circular has since been issued to all health facilities in the district to submit stool samples to the University Teaching Hospital Microbiology Laboratory for culture and sensitivity.
A culture is a test to find germs (such as bacteria or a fungus) that has caused an infection.
A sensitivity test checks to see what kind of medicine, such as an antibiotic, that will work best to kill the identified germs.
“So far, we have not recorded any confirmed cases of either Cholera, typhoid, or dysentery from all stool samples collected and tested” Ministry of Health spokeperson
Dr. Abel Kabalo has said in a statement.
He has therefore, urged the public to be highly alert and report any diarrhoeal cases to the nearest health facility so that stool samples are taken for testing.
Dr Kabalo has further called on the public to practice high levels of hygiene as we approach the rainy season to avoid any possible contraction of water borne diseases.