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**Malawi’s cholera epidemic, the worst in decades, has sparked massive demand for vaccines, but stocks are reportedly in short supply.
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The country no longer has a cholera vaccine, according to local media, quoting Malawi Ministry of Health spokesperson Adrian Chikumbe.
Malawi secured 2.9 million doses from the Gavi-supported global oral cholera vaccine stockpile in November.
Since the first case was confirmed in March 2022, 29 health districts across the country have reported cases of cholera.
As of 20 January, health authorities in Malawi have reported a total of 631 new cases of cholera. 17 new deaths.
The cumulative number of confirmed cases and deaths reported since the outbreak began was 28,132 and 916, respectively.
In daily updates, the Ministry of Health urged all Malawians to comply with prevention and containment measures.
global epidemic
Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that is spread through contaminated water or food and can cause severe dehydration. This is a bacterial disease that affects both children and adults.
Left untreated, up to 30% of cholera cases can be fatal, and in extreme cases, the disease can kill within hours.
If Malawi is the epicenter of the epidemic in Africa, cholera is surging worldwide.
In December, the World Health Organization said the global stockpile of a cholera vaccine to support management was “empty or very low.”
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