Cholera outbreak spreads in Malawi

BLANTYRE: Malawi is in the grip of a cholera outbreak which has spread across the country, killing 292 people and infecting 9 447 since March when the first case was reported, according to the health ministry.

Most deaths from the disease, which is spread through contaminated water and food, are in four districts bordering Lake Malawi and in Blantyre.

Treatment camps have been set up and patients are arriving in droves, putting pressure on a health care system depleted of essential medicines and equipment. The outbreak now has a mortality rate of 3.1%, up from 2% in March.