Over 200 people have died of Cholera in Malawi. This is after the infection broke out in the month of October and the rate has now been peaking day by day.

According to United Nations, the country has recorded 7,499 cases of the disease since March, which is said to be the largest outbreak to hit the nation in 10 years.

Following the report from the Malawi’s Ministry of Health’ said that 174 new cases were reported on Tuesday, which is lower from the 200 cases that were been recorded in a day in the third week of October.

“Epidemics form a wave and as the statistics show, the numbers are going down after they peaked in October,” Storm Kabuluzi, director of preventive health services at the health ministry told AFP.

“We are working to ensure that this will be the last wave by using a number of preventive interventions”.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN children’s agency UNICEF said earlier this week that the country had received 2.9 million doses of oral cholera vaccine to step up its immunization campaign.

Cholera is a bacterial disease usually spread through contaminated water or food. Some of it’s symptoms are: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, dehydration, fatigue and more others. Left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people.

In September, the WHO warned that after years of decline, the planet was witnessing a “worrying upsurge” in cholera outbreaks, with climate change adding to traditional triggers such as poverty and conflict.
In an year, the disease affects between 1.3 million and four million people, causing up to 143,000 deaths worldwide.

The health ministry has now appealed to faith leaders to encourage followers to seek treatment when reporting symptoms, as some are still avoiding to do so due to religious grounds.

By Jane Kibathi.