Almost 270 new cases of cholera in Mozambique in four days

Mozambique’s health authorities have recorded almost 270 new cholera cases across the country in just four days, according to Ministry of Health officials consulted by Lusa this Friday.

According to the latest disease progression bulletin prepared by the National Directorate of Public Health with data up to January 10, a total of 9,062 cholera cases have been reported in the country since October 1, including 25 deaths.

There were no deaths due to cholera in the last four days, but 269 new cases were confirmed across the country, the bulletin said.

The death rate from the outbreak remains at 0.3%, according to the bulletin, which lists nearly 30 districts with active cholera cases.

The province most affected by the current wave of cholera outbreak is Nampula (north), which has a total of 2,905 cases and 12 deaths, followed by Tete (northwest) with 1,871 cases and six deaths.

This Friday is the last of five days during which the cholera vaccination campaign is taking place in the nine regions of Mozambique hardest hit by the current outbreak, which is expected to affect more than 2.2 million people.

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

“The country is responding to a resurgence of the outbreak that has been occurring since October 2023,” the National Directorate of Public Health indicates.

“The target population for this intervention is 2,271,136 people, which corresponds to the population living in the most vulnerable areas and the focus of the current outbreak,” the same information says.

The department added that “to ensure that the campaign runs smoothly and the objectives are achieved,” 1,136 teams comprising 7,337 people were mobilized for this operation, including vaccinators, mobilizers, registrars, supervisors, coordinators, data entry staff, logisticians and drivers, among others.

“About $1.3 million has also been mobilized. [1,19 milhões de euros], for the campaign. This cost includes funds from the Government and cooperation partners,” he further admits.

The implementation of the campaign involves vaccination at stationary posts in medical institutions and the use of mobile teams in predetermined places with the highest concentration of population, such as markets, football fields, meeting places, headquarters of administrative posts, populated areas and others.

“And, when warranted, a door-to-door strategy will be adopted,” says the National Directorate of Public Health, adding that “to avoid duplication or setbacks and ensure better post-campaign evaluation,” vaccinated people will receive a card “as proof vaccination and that they must maintain it.”