ON FEBRUARY 13 this year, President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi launched a national campaign that carried the gravity of a battle cry: “Tithetse kolera (End Cholera)”. He spoke from Mgona, one of the cholera hotspots in capital city Lilongwe, as patients were ferried to health centres. He declared that the landlocked southeastern African nation’s immediate challenge was to reduce the fatality rate of the current cholera outbreak from 3.2 per cent to the global average of about 1 per cent by the end of the month.
The acute diarrhoeal infection, caused by consuming food or water contaminated with bacterium Vibrio cholerae, has been endemic to Malawi since 1998, when the country reported its first major outbreak of the disease. Cases remained confined to the flood-prone southern districts, occurring usually during the rainy season of November-May. But the current outbreak is unprecedentedly protracted—it started in the southern district of Machinga in March 2022 and by February 2023, had spread to all the 29 districts of the country, infecting 36,940 people and killing more than 1,200, as per February 9, 2023 update by the World Health Organization (who). “This is the deadliest outbreak of cholera in the country’s history,” says who in a statement.
What makes the outbreak a matter of concern is that the current surge in cases comes after the country had managed to bring down cholera cases to just two in 2021.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Trade On Emissions
EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a tariff on imports, is designed to protect European industries in the guise of climate action.
'The project will facilitate physical and cultural decimation of indigenous people'
The Great Nicobar Project has all the hallmarks of a disaster-seismic, ecological, human. Why did it get the go-ahead?
TASTE IT RED
Popularity of Karnataka's red jackfruit shows how biodiversity can be conserved by ensuring that communities benefit from it
MANY MYTHS OF CHIPKO
Misconceptions about the Chipko movement have overshadowed its true objectives.
The politics and economics of mpox
Africa's mpox epidemic stems from delayed responses, neglect of its health risks and the stark vaccine apartheid
Emerging risks
Even as the world gets set to eliminate substances threatening the ozone layer, climate change and space advancement pose new challenges.
JOINING THE CARBON CLUB
India's carbon market will soon be a reality, but will it fulfil its aim of reducing emissions? A report by PARTH KUMAR and MANAS AGRAWAL
Turn a new leaf
Scientists join hands to predict climate future of India's tropical forests
Festering troubles
The Democratic Republic of Congo struggles to contain mpox amid vaccine delays, conflict and fragile healthcare.
India sees unusual monsoon patterns
THE 2024 southwest monsoon has, between June 1 and September 1, led to excess rainfall in western and southern states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while others like Nagaland, Manipur and Punjab recorded a deficit.