Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
ZIMBABWE has recorded over 12 000 new suspected influenza cases this week alone, but health experts say there is no need for panic as this is part of the country’s annual flu season.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care’s latest Weekly Disease Surveillance Report, for the week ending June 26, 2025, reveals that no deaths have been reported.
While the rising numbers may be concerning to some, public health experts say this pattern is normal for this time of the year.
Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians Secretary General, Dr Kudzai Masunda, explained that the current spike in cases is consistent with seasonal flu patterns.
“This time of the year is when we have our seasonal flu, and around the end of June to July is when we typically see an increase in cases. This is not something out of the ordinary. If you look at our surveillance data, it actually shows that over the years this is the peak period, and we have not yet reached the highest number of cases that we usually record in a week. In our peak season, we can have around 14 000 cases of seasonal flu.
“This is the period we expect seasonal flu, and this is in keeping with that. But in terms of increasing numbers, people need to look at how they interact within their communities. Remember, flu is an airborne disease and spreads by droplets. So it may be that there is more congregation of people in those areas, or that those who contract the flu are still going to work or school instead of trying to isolate themselves and reduce transmission,” he said.
Encouragingly, no COVID-19 cases have been detected in the current data.
“From what we have got from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry has what they call sentinel surveillance sites where they track viruses including influenza circulating in the country. So the latest data does not show any COVID detections. We are still looking at this as the seasonal flu that we usually get,” Dr Masunda added.
As the country continues to experience its annual flu season, health professionals are calling on citizens to take simple precautions which include staying home if unwell, practicing respiratory hygiene, avoiding crowded spaces if symptomatic, and seeking professional medical advice if symptoms worsen.
As the winter spell continues, so does the flu, and fortunately though widespread, the bug is largely non-lethal.
