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Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care is tracking the outbreak across a broader historical window.
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It has documented at least 42 people with blood-vomiting episodes and 18 deaths around Kariba.
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In November 2026, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora gave parliamentary updates on formal investigations into Mola Ward 3, covering the Nabhole, Dobe, and Chiweshe communities.
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In 2026, villagers and local leaders raised fresh alarms that additional unrecorded deaths had continued in remote areas bordering Lake Kariba.
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This prompted renewed government verification.
Treatment and prevention
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Health teams have administered Praziquantel, the standard oral antiparasitic medicine used to kill schistosome worms.
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Mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns target eligible residents in Mola Ward 3 and surrounding areas.
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MDA prioritizes school-aged children and asymptomatic carriers to stop infection before severe organ damage develops.
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Mass deworming rounds are scheduled to continue in Nyaminyami District through 2026 and 2027, alongside broader national neglected tropical disease programs.
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Patients assessed with portal hypertension—high blood pressure in the liver’s blood vessels—have been prescribed propranolol.
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This beta-blocker lowers pressure in swollen veins in the food pipe (esophageal varices) to reduce the risk of fatal bleeding.
Medical and psychological support
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According to The Herald, the Ministry is deploying multidisciplinary teams.
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These include specialist surgeons, physicians, epidemiologists, and psychologists.
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The teams are assessing ongoing medical needs and providing psychological support to affected families.
Timeline
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Before November 2026: Ministry tracking documents at least 42 blood-vomiting episodes and 18 deaths around Kariba.
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2026: Villagers and local leaders report additional unrecorded deaths in remote areas bordering Lake Kariba; government renews verification.
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November 2026: Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora provides parliamentary updates on investigations into Mola Ward 3 (Nabhole, Dobe, Chiweshe).
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2026–2027: Mass deworming rounds continue in Nyaminyami District alongside national neglected tropical disease programs.
