Malawi deferred the opening of primary and secondary schools for at least two weeks on Monday due to a cholera outbreak.
The new school year was supposed to start on January 3, but rising cholera infections and deaths forced the government to postpone school reopening plans while it dealt with the outbreak.
“The respective authorities should enhance compliance with recommended cholera control measures, including cholera vaccination for those who have not yet been vaccinated, for all other learners in all health districts,” the country’s presidential task force on coronavirus and cholera said in a statement.
According to the government’s most recent update, released on December 22, cholera has killed 410 people in Malawi since February, with 13,837 people testing positive for the disease, 338 of whom were hospitalized.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera ingestion of contaminated food or water.
The incubation period is between 12 hours and five days after ingesting contaminated food or water. It remains a global threat to public health.
REF:THE EASTAFRICA
