Staff Reporter

The country has recorded more than 12 000 suspected influenza cases in just one week, according to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s latest Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the week ending June 26, 2025.

While the spike in numbers may sound alarming, public health experts have reassured the nation that the increase is in line with normal seasonal flu patterns and should not trigger panic.

The country is currently in the middle of its winter flu season, a period that historically sees a surge in respiratory infections.

In an interview with the media, yesterday, Zimbabwe College of Public Health Physicians Secretary General,Dr Kudzai Masunda, emphasised that such an uptick in cases is expected at this time of year.

“We experience our seasonal flu peak at this time of year. Between late June and July, we typically see an increase in reported cases. It’s not unusual. In fact, based on previous surveillance data, we’re not yet at the highest weekly numbers we’ve recorded before. During peak weeks in previous years, we’ve had as many as 14,000 cases,” said Dr Masunda.

He added that human behaviour plays a role in how flu spreads.

“People need to consider their level of interaction in public spaces. Influenza is an airborne disease, transmitted through droplets, so if more people are gathering indoors due to colder weather or if symptomatic individuals are still attending work or school, transmission naturally increases,” he said.

Despite the rise in flu cases, the report notes that no deaths have been recorded and there is currently no sign of a COVID-19 resurgence. The Ministry of Health and Child Care continues to monitor viral activity through sentinel surveillance sites across the country, which track circulating influenza and other respiratory viruses.

“The latest data confirms that we are dealing with the seasonal flu virus, not COVID-19. The Ministry is on top of the situation, and the public should remain alert but not alarmed,” said Dr Masunda.

Health professionals are encouraging citizens to take simple preventive steps to reduce the spread of the flu virus. These include staying at home when feeling unwell, practising good respiratory hygiene such as covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, avoiding crowded spaces when symptomatic, and consulting a healthcare provider if symptoms become severe.

As Zimbabwe continues to navigate the chilly winter season, the flu’s presence is a familiar, though sometimes uncomfortable, companion but one that is generally manageable with responsible public behaviour and health awareness