HARARE, June 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 317 people have died from malaria in Zimbabwe since the beginning of 2025, the Ministry of Health and Child Care said on Monday.
In its latest update on the country's malaria situation, the ministry noted that during the first 23 weeks of 2025, Zimbabwe recorded 126 malaria outbreaks, of which 121 have been controlled.
The surge in outbreaks earlier in the year was fueled by increased rainfall, fluctuating temperatures, and a rise in outdoor economic activities, such as artisanal mining, tobacco curing, market gardening, and cross-border trading, which heightened exposure to mosquito bites, the ministry said.
Cumulative malaria cases increased from 29,085 in the first 23 weeks of 2024 to 111,998 in the same period of 2025, with malaria-related deaths also up from 51 to 317, according to the ministry.
The ministry attributed the increase in deaths mainly to delays in accessing treatment, as many cases occurred in remote areas far from health facilities.
The Zimbabwean government in early May expressed deep concern over the sharp rise in malaria cases across the country.
The southern African country's peak malaria period coincides with the rainy season, which typically runs from November to May. ■
