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Malawi: Cholera Outbreak - Dec 2015

Status
Past
Countries
Malawi
Disaster types
Epidemic

As of 20 January 2016, 6 districts had reported cholera cases: Machinga registered 340 cases with 16 deaths, 8 from treatment camps and 8 from community. Zomba had registered 60 cases, no death, Nkhata bay 34 cases with no death, Karonga 8 cases with 1 death, Kasungu 1 case and Lilongwe 1 case. (Malawi Red Cross, 24 Jan 2016)

The cholera outbreak which started in December 2015 continues to be a challenge in the country, particularly in districts surrounding Lake Chirwa, although the number of new cases has been declining. As of 31st March 2016 a cumulative total of 1,073 cholera cases were registered in 10 out of 28 districts with 21 deaths, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 1.96%. During the last week of March, a total of 32 new cholera cases were recorded as compared to 33 recorded in the previous week. (UNICEF, 5 Apr 2016)

A total of 287 new cholera cases have been reported during the period of 1 to 24 May 2016. The new cases have been reported in six districts (Zomba, Machinga, Karonga, Rumphi, Salima and Nsanje). As of 24 May, the total number of cases in the treatment camps as of was 13. The national cumulative number of cholera cases is 1,591 with 42 deaths representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.64%. The national CFR is above the recommended 1% CFR for cholera by WHO. (UNICEF, 31 May 2016.)

A total of 1,686 cholera cases have been reported as of 30 June, with 46 deaths recorded. The most affected districts are Machinga (799 cases), Zomba (288 cases) and Karonga (228 cases). (UNICEF, 12 Jul 2016.)

New cholera cases have been reported during the week of 25 to 31 July 2016 (one from Nsanje, two from Zomba and two from Machinga) with no deaths. Cumulatively 1,736 cases with 46 deaths have been registered representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.6% which is above the World Health Organization recommendation. In addition, a total of 320 suspected cases of typhoid have been registered in Zomba (316), Mwanza (2), and Mangochi (1), and Neno districts (1). (UNICEF, 4 Aug 2016)

As of 14 August 1,748 cases with 46 deaths have cumulatively been registered representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.6 per cent which is above the World Health Organization recommendation. In addition, as of 22 August 2016, a total of 350 suspected cases have been reported with no deaths in a typhoid outbreak which began around 14 June 2016 and later spread into other districts such as Mwanza, Neno, and Mangochi. Contaminated drinking water and food have been identified as the potential sources of infection. (UNICEF, 31 Aug 2016)

1,786 cases of cholera with 48 death have been registered as of 18 September in 14 districts in an outbreak which started in mid-December 2015. This represents a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 2.7% which is above the World Health organization recommendation. During the week of 12-18 September, 2016, no new cholera cases were reported. (UNICEF, 30 Sep 2016)

The country has registered zero cholera cases since 25th September. The cumulative number of cases registered since the outbreak started in December 2015 is 1,795, with 48 deaths (2.7 CFR). (UNICEF, 31 Oct 2016)