BOTSWANA: 5 CHOLERA CASES REPORTED SO FAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GABORONE 001083 SIPDIS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SOCI TBIO BC SUBJECT: BOTSWANA: 5 CHOLERA CASES REPORTED SO FAR ¶1. SUMMARY: The number of people infected with cholera in Botswana has risen to five - all of whom are Zimbabwean. There have been no reports that any citizens of Botswana have contracted cholera from contact with these patients. The GOB is carefully monitoring the situation and has been working closely with the WHO on cholera prevention planning. The government is also working with supermarkets, citizens, and religious organizations to implement best practices and minimize the chances of a serious cholera outbreak. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The number of cholera cases reported in Botswana has risen to five. All of the cholera patients are Zimbabweans who crossed into Botswana and later sought medical treatment. The first two cases presented at Sekgoma Memorial Hospital in Serowe on November 19. Subsequently, a cholera patient was admitted to the Jubilee Clinic in Francistown, and is still being treated and recuperating there. On Monday December 8 another two cases presented at the Jubilee Clinic, where they are being treated and awaiting test confirmation that they have cholera. There have been no reports that any citizens of Botswana have contracted cholera from contact with these patients. ¶3. The December 11 edition of the newspaper Mmegi reported that a public health specialist at the Francistown City Council, Dr. Paul Nashara, said he was "highly apprehensive" that the disease might spread, which is why " (the government is) taking every precaution to see to it that the disease does not spread to Francistown." Precautions being implemented include working with supermarkets to improve food handling practices and working through community and church groups to increase public awareness of the disease and best practices. In addition to re-emphasizing the importance of all employees washing their hands before touching food, supermarkets have been instructed to wrap all fresh produce in plastic to avoid it being directly handled by shoppers. Also, supermarket bakeries are no longer allowing customers to help themselves to bread, but will have employees assist in the selection and slicing of bread. Additionally, the government is suggesting that the sale of all fresh salads be suspended until further notice. ¶4. The GOB has been working closely with the WHO on cholera prevention planning. Press releases have appeared in local 
newspapers telling citizens about the status of cholera in Botswana and steps they should be taking to minimize the likelihood of its spread. Dr. Margaret Davis, Director of the Centers for Disease Control in Botswana ,spoke with Dr. Malefho, the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, about GOB planning. According to him, the GOB is watching certain border posts and has public health specialists making daily health visits to hospitals and actively testing all persons suspected of having cholera. The GOB also has plans to set up a reception center in Francistown to handle infected migrants from Zimbabwe if the situation on the ground requires it, but the Ministry has not yet deemed it necessary. Dr. Davis' assessment of the situation is that Botswana will only have a major problem with the spread of cholera is there are heavy rains like there were in early 2006. Additionally, she feels that rains around Christmas could be troublesome as there is typically a lot of cross boarder travel at that time. ¶5. COMMENT: Botswana has been dealing admirably with the spillover effects of the crisis in Zimbabwe for many years. However, Zimbabwe's impact on Botswana is growing, with cholera cases being but the latest addition. There have been stock-outs of maize meal, a staple of most local diets, in supermarkets near the border as Zimbabweans surge into Botswana to buy food. Batswana who live in and around Francistown complain frequently in meetings and in the press that they are often unable to buy staple food items due to demand from Zimbabwean shoppers. There is also a noticeable change in the mood toward Zimbabweans, albeit not a drastic one. Ther has been more negative rhetoric about Zimbabwe oth in the press and on the street. A recent headine in a local paper stated that the border villge of Ramotswa was being "over-run" by criminals rom Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean migrants are regularly blamed for increasing the crime rate in Botswana. Other newspaper editorials have criticized the money the GOB must spend to deal with illegal Zimbabwean immigrants, noting that this expense reduces the funds available for the GOB to spend on its own citizens and infrastructure. Finally, many newspaper articles and headlines have shifted to using the somewhat pejorative term "Zimbos" to talk about Zimbabwean citizens. Post believes GABORONE 00001083 002 OF 002 that this shift in mood is not yet a large problem, but it does mark a shift worth watching. Post will continue to monitor the mood of Botswana's citizens toward Zimbabwe and Zimbabwean migrants and report new developments as appropriate. We will also work closely with the GOB and will report any new developments with regard to cholera. END COMMENT DROUIN