Cyclone Freddy has moved on from Malawi, but it has left behind it a trail of destruction and the risk of an unprecedented cholera outbreak. It is usually spread through contaminated water and, left untreated, it can be fatal within hours, even in previously healthy people. She is currently living in crowded conditions at the Chambo Evacuation Centre in the Zomba District, north-east of Malawi’s commercial capital, Blantyre. While Malawi was already facing its worst cholera outbreak on record before Cyclone Freddy, it is not the only health concern the region now faces as a result of poor sanitation and contaminated water. It is estimated that over 183,000 people fled their homes due to the storm and flood damage caused by Cyclone Freddy.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 19, 2023 14:41 UTC