Reuters
ANNOUNCEMENTS•
The death toll from the cholera epidemic in Malawi has risen to 410. The number of infections is now nearly 14,000, Health Minister Chiponda said. This makes it the most serious cholera outbreak in the southern African country in ten years.
The epidemic started in March. Then many residents of the south of the country had to leave their homes after the floods, due to heavy rains and several hurricanes. Subsequently, many of them no longer had access to clean drinking water.
A major concern for the government is the fact that cholera is usually more prevalent during the rainy season, when it is more difficult to maintain food and water supplies. That season has just begun and many more infections are likely to 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 medicine 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 epidemic.
