Mozambique has surpassed 10,000 active cholera outbreaks since October

Mozambique on Sunday surpassed 10,000 cholera cases in the current outbreak that has mainly affected the north of the country since October, but no deaths have been reported in more than two weeks, according to official data.

According to the latest disease progression bulletin prepared by the National Public Health Authority, which contains data up to January 21, a total of 10,061 cases of cholera have been reported in the country since October 1, of which 25 have resulted in death. and 7,321 people were hospitalized.

Over the past ten days, more than 800 new cases have been reported, but no deaths, according to the history of these bulletins.

The death rate from the outbreak has fallen over the past week from 0.3% to 0.2%, the bulletin said, which continues to identify nearly 30 districts, mostly in the north of the country, with active cholera cases.

The province most affected by the current wave of cholera outbreak is Nampula (north), which has a total of 3,246 cases and 12 deaths, followed by Tete (northwest) with 1,897 cases and six deaths.

Mozambique’s health authorities recently vaccinated more than 2.2 million people against cholera in five days in areas hardest hit by the current outbreak, nearly full coverage ahead of schedule.

In previous statements to Lusa, the head of the Expanded Vaccination Program of the Ministry of Health, Leonildo Nhampossa, said that a total of 2,268,548 people were vaccinated against cholera in four provinces between January 8 and 12, including more than 1 year of age.

This “corresponds to 100 percent coverage. The set goals have been fully achieved,” he said.

The target population for this vaccination operation was 2,271,136 people, which corresponds to the population living in the most vulnerable areas and the focus of the current outbreak, as previously mentioned by the Ministry of Health.

According to the National Directorate of Public Health, the campaign targeted populations aged one year and over and was carried out in the districts of Cuure and Montepuez (Cabo Delgado province), Gil, Gurue and Mocuba (Zambezia), Magoe, Moatize and Zumbo (Tete) and Maringa (Sofala).

This vaccination campaign mobilized 1,136 teams consisting of 7,337 personnel including vaccinators, mobilizers, registrars, managers, coordinators, data entry staff, logisticians and drivers, among others, and cost approximately $1.3 million (1, 19 million euros) with state funds. and cooperation partners Mozambique.