Mozambican health authorities have recorded 14,712 cholera cases in five months, leading to 32 deaths in the current outbreak, according to official data that Lusa had access to this Monday.
According to the latest disease progression report prepared by the Ministry of Health and using data from October 1, 2023, the start of the current outbreak, to March 31, 2024, this mortality rate remains at 0.2%.
The report added that of the 14,712 cumulative cases reported over five months, 4,926 (33.5%) were reported in the province of Nampula, 2,734 (18.6%) in Tete, 2,402 (16.3%) in Cabo Delgado , 2,282 (15.5%) in the province of Zambezia: 1,571 (10.7%) in Sofala, 428 (2.9%) in Niassa, 320 (2.2%) in Manica and 49 (0.3%) in Maputo (province).
It is also noted that active cholera outbreaks are currently observed in the districts of Erati, Mekuburi, Nakaroa, Mekonta, Angoche and the cities of Nampula (Nampula), Pemba, Metuge, Mekufi and Namuno (Cabo Delgado), the districts of Cahora Bassa, the city of Tete, Doa, Angonia, Makanga and Marara (Tete), Gurue and Alto Molocue districts (Zambezia), Kaya, Chemba, Nhamatanda, Dondo and Tcheringoma districts (Sofala), Lichinga, Cuamba, Metarika and Chimbonila (Nyasa) districts, Guro districts, Makossa and the city of Chimoyo (Manica), as well as in the district of Moamba (Maputo).
As of March 31, 36 cholera patients were hospitalized in the country’s medical posts.
In previous statements to Luse, the head of the Expanded Vaccination Program of the Ministry of Health, Leonildo Nhampossa, said that between January 8 and 12, 2,268,548 people over the age of 1 year were vaccinated against cholera in four provinces.
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.
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.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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