Cholera kills 1 254

Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda has called on the public to follow all cholera preventive measures to curb further spread of the outbreak and deaths which reached 1 254 yesterday.

She said people should make it a habit to boil, cook or peel food before consumption to avoid cholera.

Chiponda said: “Basically, it means that if you cannot cook it or peel it, forget it! Do not think about eating that food. As we are battling the cholera outbreak, let us all take care about what we eat or drink. Avoid buying food from street stands.”

The minister further called on those suspecting to have contracted cholera to seek medical attention immediately.

Yesterday, the country registered 672 new cases and 25 new deaths. Some 1 090 are currently in the treatment centres.

The outbreak has affected all 28 districts.

Cumulatively, 38 566 people have been infected since the onset of the outbreak in March 2022 when the first case was recorded in Machinga.

Ministry of Health said Mangochi, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Salima, Balaka and Machinga continue to register more cases.

Reads the ministry’s update in part: “Since the onset of the outbreak, Mangochi has reported most of the cases at 7 028 cases and 114 deaths, followed by Lilongwe at 5 814 cases and 351 deaths, Blantyre 5 564 cases and 181 deaths, Salima 2 779 cases and 72 deaths, Balaka 2 481 cases and 66 deaths, Machinga 1 589 cases and 55 deaths while Nkhata Bay 1 514 cases and 44 deaths. The case fatality rate is 3.26 percent.”

Malawi is grappling with the largest cholera outbreak ever, which European Union (EU) Ambassador Rune Skinnebach said would have been contained had the cases not been treated in isolation at the beginning.

Describing the outbreak in Malawi as one of the worst in the world, the diplomat said the only way out now is to work together and use the available resources effectively.