Rains worse cholera risk

AP via the IHT:

GENEVA: The onset of seasonal rains in Zimbabwe has increased fears that the cholera epidemic could turn into a catastrophe with tens of thousands more sickened and further spread into neighboring countries, the Red Cross federation said Tuesday.

"We've already got a very serious situation and rain will only make it much, much worse," said Matthew Cochrane, a spokesman for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The rainfall, which usually brings floods to the southern African country, has started in the northern provinces, he said.

Aid agencies have been warning the rains could spread cholera further in a population already weakened by disease and hunger...

on the other hand, my friend wrote me she was worried because the rains were late, and people were starving...so it is good news that the rains have finally arrived.
Rain, by spreading sewage, makes cholera more widespread into the water supply.