Malawi Declares End to Worst Cholera Outbreak in Country's History
The outbreak, declared a National Public Health Emergency on December 5, 2022, resulted in 59,376 cases and 1,772 deaths.
LILONGWE, Malawi— The Malawian government has officially declared an end to its most severe cholera outbreak on record, more than two years after it began, writes Winston Mwale.
Dr. Samson Mdolo, Secretary of Health in the Ministry of Health, announced that the outbreak, which started on March 3, 2022, has been contained.
The declaration follows four weeks without any new reported cases, in line with Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) guidelines.
"The development means all the transmission chains of the disease have been disrupted," Mdolo said.
He added that the ministry and its partners would maintain vigilance through continued surveillance and control measures.
It coincided with Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which affected over 2.2 million people in southern Malawi.
Dr. Neema Rusibamayila Kimambo, WHO Country Representative, praised the Malawian government's leadership in containing the outbreak.
She detailed WHO's support, including the setup of treatment centers, clinical mentorship, and the administration of over 4 million oral cholera vaccine doses.
"WHO Malawi, led by WHO Africa leadership and rapid response, played a significant role in reversing the outbreak," Kimambo said.
The organization deployed 65 international experts, recruited 56 surge staff, and supported the government in hiring over 400 health workers.
Kimambo noted that Malawi became the first country in the African region to use an updated GTFCC tool to identify priority areas for multisectoral interventions in cholera control.
The country is now developing a multi-year national cholera control plan.
Despite the outbreak's end, health officials stress the importance of continued vigilance and multisectoral cooperation to prevent future outbreaks and strengthen Malawi's health security.