By Wezzie Gausi:
Malawi has recorded six new laboratory-confirmed cholera cases.
According to the latest Cholera Situation Report released by the Public Health Institute of Malawi (Phim), the cases were confirmed on February 20, 2026 and involved patients from villages under Traditional Authority Gowe in Chikwawa District.
“The cases include a four-year-old female, a two-year-old male and a 13-year-old male from Mwananjovu Village, a 19-year-old male from Jese Village, a six-year-old female and a 10-year-old female from Joliji Village,” the report reads.
The report states that the patients sought treatment at Sorgin Health Centre in Nsanje District on February 11 and 13 after presenting symptoms linked to cholera.
- Advertisement -
“The patients presented with signs and symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting. Stool samples were collected and subsequently tested culture-positive for cholera,” the report says.
Health officials confirmed that all six patients have since recovered and been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment.
Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 97 confirmed cholera cases, including eight epidemiologically linked cases and two deaths, since the first infection was detected on December 11, 2025.
The affected districts include Blantyre, Mulanje, Chikwawa, Zomba, Kasungu, Neno, Lilongwe, Balaka, Chitipa, Mzimba North, Karonga, Dowa and Chiradzulu.
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Health officials say response measures are underway to prevent the further spread of the disease.
They say, for example, that the District Rapid Response Team is conducting contact tracing and investigations while targeted interventions have been introduced in affected areas.
“The District Rapid Response Team is conducting contact tracing, case follow-up, and further investigation. Authorities have intensified pot-to-pot chlorination and health and hygiene promotion activities,” the report reads.
Health rights activist Maziko Matemba has described the development as alarming and called for stronger preventive action.
“The situation is worrisome. We need to strengthen prevention and expand cholera vaccination to protect communities before cases rise further,” Matemba said.
Non-governmental organisation Bring It Up has also spoken about the issue, urging community members to be treating water with Chlorine, washing hands after visiting the toilet and before eating food, among other measures.
“Most importantly, community members should embrace health-seeking behaviour. The problem in Malawi is that people report to hospitals when the situation has become worse.
‘It is important for Malawians to make medical checkups a routine activity in their lives. Medical experts are there to serve them and, as such, community members must learn to utilise medical experts’ services,” the organisation says in a statement dated February 22, 2026.
PHIM says it will continue monitoring the outbreak and provide updates as surveillance and response activities continue nationwide.
Speaking at a press briefing held on December 28, 2025, Health Minister Madalitso Baloyi said the government had been undertaking emergency response measures since the first cholera suspected cases were reported.
“These [measures] include strengthening disease surveillance to detect cases at the earliest time possible, case investigations in communities, deployment of rapid response teams to affected areas, case management by opening cholera treatment units and establishing oral rehydration points.
“We are providing essential medicines and supplies, intensifying infection prevention and control measures in our health facilities managing cholera cases, promoting safe water, sanitation and hygiene practices,” Baloyi said.
