More than 700 people have died during a cholera outbreak in Malawi and more than 21,000 have been infected since the wave of infections began in March last year. The announcement was made today by the Minister of Health of Malawi, Khumbize Chiponda. A ministry report said nearly 900 people were being treated in hospitals.
Even ten months after the first case of cholera was known, the outbreak in the southern African country with about 20 million inhabitants is still not under control. Contaminated water sources are often the reason for further spread, says Chiponda.
However, there are also several religious groups in Malawi that advise their followers against medical treatments, thus promoting the spread. Cholera is easily treatable with medication, but if left untreated it can lead to kidney failure and death due to significant fluid loss.