Cholera spreads to Mzuzu, Rumphi

Mzuzu City in Mzimba and Rumphi District have become the latest places to be hit by a cholera outbreak this year, bringing the cumulative number of affected districts to 14 out of 28.

Mzuzu City confirmed a suspected case on Saturday while Rumphi district commissioner Emmanuel Bulukutu confirmed four cases and one death yesterday.

Rumphi District director of health and social services Dr. Western Nyirenda said two of the cases were from Vongo area in Traditional Authority (TA) Jalavikuwa in Mzimba, but due its proximity to the district, it is served by Rumphi District Council.

The other two are from Chikwawa area in the area of Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe in the district, he said.

Mzimba North District Health Office spokesperson Lovemore Kabaghe, who confirmed the suspected case in Mzuzu City, said the patient is an 80-year-old woman who was taken to the hospital after showing diarrhoea symptoms.

He said: “Indeed, we have a suspected cholera case in Mzuzu. It is an 80-year-old lady from Lower Chasefu, who visited Mzuzu Health Centre because of diarrhoea and when the clinicians examined the patient, they suspected that it could be cholera.

“We have taken the specimen to be examined but as of now we are treating the patient as if she has cholera.”

Both Nyirenda and Kabaghe said preventive measures have been put in place to help contain the disease from further spreading.

Mzuzu City Council spokesperson Macdonald Gondwe on Saturday said they will immediately start sensitising people to make them aware about the disease and how they can prevent it

He said: “The council, just like other institutions, is supposed to promote sanitation and hygiene practices. One of the key elements is the provision of toilets and other facilities.

“We will also conduct awareness campaigns, and radio programmes will be aired to teach people on how they can practise good hygiene.”

There were fears that the outbreak would extend to Mzuzu and surrounding districts which border Nkhata Bay where 12 people died from cholera last week.

As of Saturday, Malawi has registered 1 647 cases and 62 deaths in 14 districts.

The affected districts are Nsanje, Chikwawa, Neno, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Machinga, Balaka, Mangochi, Lirangwe, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Mzimba and Rumphi.

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae.