The devastating effect of cyclone Freddy amidst the deadliest cholera outbreak in Malawi: a double burden for an already weak healthcare system-short communication

Abstract

Cholera outbreaks cause significant disease burden, especially in developing countries. While the disease is largely eliminated in developed countries, it still remains a huge burden to Sub-Saharan Africa. Lack of access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation facilities remains a huge risk factor for disease transmission and persistence. These outbreaks in Africa are usually associated with high case fatality rates. While many risk factors exist for the spread of the disease, climate change poses a huge challenge to the fight and spread of the disease. Most countries in southern Africa including Malawi and Mozambique have been experiencing the direct and indirect impact of climate change. Climate change can affect the epidemiological dynamics of multiple infectious agents, including vector-borne, water-borne, and food-borne pathogens. The aftermaths effects of flooding and droughts can largely be felt in seasonality changes in the spread of Cholera. Having an in-depth understanding of multiple factors that influence the patterns of spread of climate change related diseases combined with robust surveillance systems could help detect environmental changes in high-risk areas and result in early public health interventions that can alleviate potential outbreaks.

Keywords: Africa; Cholera; Malawi; Outbreak.