Cholera ‘harvesting’ in Malawi: Deaths rise in worst outbreak to date

Malawi has delayed the opening of public schools in the country’s two largest cities — Blantyre and Lilongwe — the health minister announced today, in an effort to slow the rate of increase in cholera deaths.

The total number of cases and deaths have risen to 17,824 and 595 respectively since the first cases were reported in March, with a fatality rate of 3.34 percent, according to the health ministry.

Cholera is a problem every year for this country during the rainy months–from November to March–when the number of deaths is around 100 annually.

But the current outbreak is expected to be the worst yet.

“Due to the continued increase in cholera cases and deaths from the disease in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe, Primary and Secondary schools in these two cities will not start on January 3 as announced,” Health Minister Kubize Chiponda said in a statement.

The minister said that in the second year the new start date of the courses will be announced.

The UN health agency says death rates are rising in about 30 countries around the world that reported cholera outbreaks in 2022, about a third higher than in a typical year.

Cholera is spread by contaminated food and water and can cause acute diarrhea.

Many infected people show mild symptoms, but the disease can cause death within hours if left untreated.

The victims in Malawi include medical staff in public health centers.

Chiponda called on authorities to tighten control measures — for example, spraying bleach to disinfect congested areas such as markets and schools — and to increase vaccinations.

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