By Chrispin Kapindira
The Ministry of Health in Malawi has officially announced the end of the cholera outbreak that affected the country since March 2022. The declaration was made on July 10, 2024, after four consecutive weeks of no confirmed cholera cases from suspected sources.
In collaboration with the Public Health Institute of Malawi, the Ministry of Health confirmed that all transmission chains of the disease have been fully interrupted, aligning with the public health surveillance guidance for cholera by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) and the World Health Organization's alert and response systems for public health threats.
During the outbreak, Malawi recorded a total of 59,376 cases and 1,772 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 3%. The outbreak was initially declared a National Public Health Emergency by President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera on December 5, 2022, prompting intensified preventive and control measures, including cholera campaigns.
These efforts significantly reduced the number of cases, leading to the lifting of the emergency status on August 5, 2023.
Although cases declined, sporadic reports continued in high-risk districts, with 286 cases and three deaths reported between November 1, 2023, and June 5, 2024.
In response, the country implemented rigorous surveillance and control measures at both community and facility levels, ultimately halting the outbreak.
Dr. Samson Ndolo, Secretary for Health, commended the efforts of all stakeholders, including the general public, in managing and controlling the cholera outbreak.
He emphasized the importance of continued preventive measures to avoid future outbreaks, including drinking safe water, maintaining food hygiene, regular hand washing with soap, consistent use of toilets, and promptly reporting suspected cholera cases to nearest health facilities.
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