Cholera outbreak affects 15,637 people in Mozambique with 33 deaths in six months – Africa

Mozambican health authorities have registered 15,637 cases of cholera in practically six months, which caused 33 deaths during the current outbreak, according to official data to which Lusa had access this Saturday.

According to the most recent report on the progression of the disease, prepared by the Ministry of Health and with data from October 1, 2023, the beginning of the current outbreak, until April 25, 2024, this is a fatality rate that is remains at 0.2%.

In practically a month (since March 31, date of the last report), Mozambique recorded 925 cases of cholera, which caused one death.

The report adds that of the 15,637 cumulative cases reported in six months – until April 25 -, 5,269 were reported by the province of Nampula, with 12 deaths, followed by 2,873 in Tete, with 10 deaths, and 2,431 in Cabo Delgado, with a dead person.

There are currently active outbreaks of the disease in several districts of Nampula, Cabo Delgado, Tete, Zambézia, Sofala, Manica and Maputo and as of April 25, 38 cholera patients were hospitalized in health units in the country.

At least 121 people have died due to waves of misinformation about the cholera outbreak in Mozambique, according to official data made public since October.

Most of the victims, 98 people, lost their lives in a single circumstance, when, on April 7, a boat leaving the administrative post of Lungo, in the district of Mossuril, bound for Ilha de Moçambique, sank, killing 55 children , 34 women and nine men.

According to the Mozambican maritime authorities, the fishing vessel, on which 130 people were traveling, was not authorized to carry passengers and the people were fleeing an alleged cholera outbreak, bound for the Island of Mozambique, with the sinking occurring around 100 meters from the coast.

The Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi, visited the Lunga administrative post to comfort the families, having recognized that the sinking is the result of “misinformation carried out by people with dark interests”.

“Don’t allow rumors”, declared Filipe Nyusi, during the interaction with the victims’ families.

Records point to the existence of a further 23 people who have lost their lives since October 2023 as a result of waves of misinformation on topics linked to cholera, said the general commander of the Mozambican police, Bernardino Rafael, on 17 January.

Community leaders and health technicians, for the most part, have been killed and injured by members of the public under allegations of bringing the disease to the communities.