World Health Organization says 1,937 people have died since outbreak in August . The WHO has said the virus is spread by close contact with infected animals and that it can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. Expert : Failure to import adequate stocks of water-treating chemicals behind disease . The epidemic comes at a time when President Robert Mugabe 's government is facing its worst economic crisis , manifested in shortages of all essentials from food , fuel , cash , foreign currency and electricity and a hyperinflationary economy . Cholera has spread to neighboring countries South Africa and Botswana .
World Health Organization says 1,937 people have died since outbreak in August . The WHO has said the virus is spread by close contact with infected animals and that it can be transmitted through contaminated food or water. Expert : Failure to import adequate stocks of water-treating chemicals behind disease . Cholera has spread to neighboring countries South Africa and Botswana .