More Cholera Cases Confirmed in Mozambique

In Mozambique, an outbreak of cholera has been growing exponentially since December 2022. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported heavy rainfall in the first weeks of February 2023 threatens to further worsen the situation with geographic spread to new districts.

The WHO confirmed on February 23, 2023, the first case of cholera in the current outbreak was reported from the Lago district in Niassa province in mid-September 2022.

And as of February 19, 2023, a cumulative total of 5,237 suspected cholera cases and 37 deaths (Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) 0.7%) have been reported in 29 districts from six out of 11 provinces in the country.

The WHO considers the risk of further disease spread as very high at the national and regional levels. 

For example, the neighboring African country of Malawi is facing the deadliest cholera outbreak in its history.

A request for approximately 700,000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine was approved by the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision, and a vaccination campaign in affected districts in Gaza, Niassa, Sofala, and Zambezia provinces is in preparation and will start in late February 2023.

Additionally, the U.S. CDC recommends people visiting Mozambique should be vaccinated against measles and polio in 2023.

These travel vaccines are generally available at certified travel; clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.