Malawi’s worst cholera outbreak in 10 years, now more than 400 dead

Reuters

NOS News•today, 10:44

The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Malawi has risen to 410. The number of infections is now at almost 14,000, Health Minister Chiponda reports. This makes it the most serious cholera outbreak in the southern African country in ten years.

The outbreak started in March. Then many residents from the south of the country had to leave their homes after flooding, as a result of heavy rainfall and several hurricanes. After that, many of them no longer had access to clean drinking water.

Wat is cholera?

Cholera is a disease caused by the bacteria Vibrio cholerae. Someone who is infected with this can suffer from severe, watery diarrhea. Because this causes the body to lose a lot of fluid, this can lead to severe dehydration. Without treatment, this is life-threatening.

Cholera is transmitted by drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated food. Outbreaks are most common in South Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean. The disease is very rare in the Netherlands, with between 0 and 9 reports per year, the RIVM writes.

A major concern for the government is the fact that cholera is usually most prevalent during the rainy season, when it is more difficult to keep food and water supplies sanitary. That season has only just begun, and it is likely that many more infections will occur.

In principle, cholera can be treated well, but it is still problematic in a poor country like Malawi, because the country suffers from a shortage of basic medical supplies, such as medicines or needles for an IV.

There is a vaccine against the disease, but it is only effective for two years. There is also a worldwide shortage of the vaccine. For many Malawians, therefore, only one vaccine is available, while two are needed for optimal effectiveness. President Chakwera has now asked the country’s ‘covid task force’ to help fight the cholera outbreak.

Correspondent Saskia Houttuin in Kenya:

“Malawi is also receiving more and more aid from abroad: UN organizations such as UNICEF and WHO have scaled up their activities, and the EU recently announced that it will allocate half a million for humanitarian aid. But whether that is enough, and above all on time, is just a question.”