The death toll from Zambia’s unprecedented cholera outbreak has climbed to almost 700, according to a medical charity organization, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).

The cholera outbreak, which began in October in the capital, Lusaka, has now affected all provinces in Zambia, infecting over 19,000 people.

MSF emphasizes that cholera can be effectively treated with rehydration, but in the absence of proper care, an individual can succumb within a few hours. The disease is transmitted through contaminated water, underscoring the critical importance of access to clean drinking water in halting its further spread.

Meanwhile, the Africa Centers for Disease Control announced the supply of “life-saving medical supplies” to Zambia’s Ministry of Health.