Wave of misinformation about cholera has led to 121 deaths since 2023 in Mozambique

A wave of misinformation about a cholera outbreak in Mozambique has killed at least 121 people, 98 of them in one circumstance, according to official figures released since October last year.

Most of the victims, 98 people, died in a single circumstance when a week ago a boat leaving the administrative post of Lungo in the Mossuril district and heading to the island of Mozambique sank, killing 55 children and 34 people. women and nine men.

According to Mozambican maritime authorities, the fishing boat carrying 130 people did not have a permit to carry passengers and the people were fleeing a suspected cholera outbreak heading to the island of Mozambique, with the sinking occurring about 100 meters from the vessel. coast.

Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi visited the Lunga administrative post on Thursday to console the families of the victims, acknowledging that the sinking was the result of “misinformation perpetrated by people with dark interests.”

“Don’t allow rumors,” Filipe Nyusi said while speaking with the families of the victims.

Records point to 23 more people who have died since October 2023 as a result of a wave of misinformation on cholera-related topics, Mozambican police commander general Bernardino Rafael said on January 17.

Community leaders and health workers were mostly killed and injured by members of the public on allegations that they brought the disease into the communities.

“Police were called to intervene in 27 cases of cholera-related violence,” the main victims of which were community leaders, said the General Commander of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM).

Between May and November, at least 16 people were detained in Sofala province in central Mozambique for providing erroneous information about cholera, authorities said.

Some Mozambican police officers were also killed in the clashes as they tried to guarantee public order and security, the commander-general said.

Mozambican health authorities have recorded 14,712 cholera cases in five months, leading to 32 deaths in the current outbreak, according to data Lusa reviewed earlier this month.

Cholera is a treatable disease that causes severe diarrhea and can lead to death from dehydration if not treated promptly.

The disease is largely caused by eating contaminated food and water due to lack of sanitation facilities.

Last May, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that there would be a global shortage of cholera vaccines by 2025 and that one billion people in 43 countries could be infected with the disease, pointing out that as early as October Mozambique was among the countries with the highest risk.