The World Health Organization has confirmed an outbreak of cholera in Beira, the city hardest hit by Cyclone Idai, in Mozambique. As of 1 April, a total of 1 052 cases of cholera have been reported by the Ministry of Health, and more are expected since >128 000 people are living in temporary shelters with unsafe water supply and poor sanitation and are at high risk of infection. An oral cholera vaccination campaign will start this week.
At this stage, cholera outbreaks have not been reported from other areas in Mozambique that were also affected by the cyclone (Figure 1).
Areas of Zimbabwe and Malawi were also hit by the cyclone (Figure 1), but no cholera outbreaks have been reported from these countries so far. However, there were cholera and typhoid fever outbreaks in Zimbabwe late last year, and there is concern for potential resurgence and fresh outbreaks in the aftermath of the cyclone.
