As a months-long cholera epidemic continues to claim lives in Zimbabwe, large numbers of Zimbabweans are said to be crossing into South Africa to seek treatment though the disease has also been taking hold south of the Limpopo River dividing the two countries.
Reports said the disease has spread to all nine South African provinces, especially Limpopo province close to the border. They said 91 new cases have been reported in Limpopo where nine deaths had occurred as of Monday. In all of South Africa there were 2,439 cases.
Reports from the World Health Organization through Monday showed nearly 46,000 cases in Zimbabwe itself, with a death toll of 2,484 from the disease in the past five months.
Sox Chikowero, an activist of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change based in South Africa, told reporter Patience Rusere of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that infected Zimbabweans are receiving adequate medical care in South Africa regardless of their immigration status, and that after treatment most are opting to stay.
