Cholera Outbreak:
A total of 3,648 cholera cases have been registered in Mozambique in 11 Districts of 4 Provinces, with 38 deaths. On 13 Feb 2015 the first confirmed case of cholera was registered in Malawi, adjacent to Mozambique. To date 34 cases have been confirmed in Nsanje district (all outside displacement sites), with 2 deaths, whilst another 5 cases were confirmed in Mwanza district in Malawi. The first case of cholera in Zimbabwe has been reported with 1 case confirmed in Chiredzi district.This is reportedly the first case in Zimbabwe since 2013.
Preparedness and response activities are underway, including: monitoring; education; water testing and treatment; provision of supplies and protective equipment; disinfection of infected houses and opening of Cholera Treatment Centres (CTC's) in the most affected districts.
Preparedness measures are also being undertaken in the main flood affected districts in Malawi and Mwanza, however gaps and additional requirements have been identified. While the situation is reportedly stabilizing in Niassa and Nampula in Mozambique, the outbreak in Tete Province needs urgent attention in terms of health surveillance, case management, provision of essential water supplies and social mobilization. The Zimbabawe Government indicated that supplies are available for response, however these would not be adequate to respond to a major outbreak.
Mozambique has reactivated the muti-sectoral technical group to combat diarrheal diseases and the Malawi Government has established a Cholera Task Force.