Cholera in Malawi

25 Aug 2022

The World Health Organization reports a continuing outbreak of cholera in Malawi. Cases have been reported from the the Southern, Central and Northern Regions of the country. 

From March 2022 to 24 August 2022 there have been 1 483 cholera cases (including 58 deaths) in Malawi.

Cholera is an infection spread mainly through food and water that can cause sudden watery diarrhoea.

Advice for Travellers

Cholera is rare in travellers. Mild cases may present as travellers' diarrhoea.

If you are travelling to a country where there is an outbreak of cholera, you should be aware how to:

• practice safe food and water precautions
• practice effective hand hygiene
• treat mild diarrhoea, and when to seek medical attention

A vaccine is available to protect against cholera. Since the risk to travellers is very low, the vaccine is only usually recommended for volunteers or humanitarian workers travelling to work in disaster relief situations.

See the fitfortravel Cholera page for further information.