On January 24, Malawi Health Minister Khumbize Chiponda said there were 1,002 people death from cholera in the country while the number of cases has increased to more than 30,600 people with a mortality rate of 3.27%.
During the 2001-2002 period, a severe cholera epidemic, the number of patients who died in this country was 968, showing the severity of the current epidemic.
Most of the deaths were recorded in the cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre, where schools were reopened last week.
Minister Chiponda recommended that people be more careful when handling dead patients’ bodies, using chlorine to disinfect and plastic body bags. The Malawi government has received 2.9 million doses of the cholera vaccine, but it is difficult to convince those at high risk to get vaccinated.
Cholera regularly strikes the southern African country during the rains from November to March each year, but the number of infections is unusually high during and following the festive season. The average annual death toll is only regarding 100.
At the regional level, cholera is affecting 14 African countries, many of which have been affected as a result of flooding.
[Biến đổi khí hậu làm gia tăng dịch tả, gần 100 người ở Syria tử vong]
In a recent report, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that climate change is accelerating cholera outbreaks globally.
According to the organization, cholera outbreaks are often severe in countries struggling to cope with poverty, conflict and humanitarian crisiswhere people do not have access to clean water.
Last year, however, there was one more factor that added up cholera that is the direct effect of Climate Changewith severe droughts, unprecedented floods and tornadoes in several countries around the world.
WHO is responding to cholera outbreaks in 29 countries, including Haiti, which has so far recorded more than 1,200 cases of cholera, more than 14,000 suspected cases and 280 deaths.
Cholera is usually spread from contaminated food or water, causing diarrhea and nausea. The disease can spread rapidly in residential areas that lack a standard sewage system or a source of potable water. If left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.
Hoang Minh (VNA/Vietnam+)
