Cholera outbreak hits Nthalire in Chitipa

Chitipa Health Office (DHO) has confirmed one case of Cholera of a six-year-old boy in Traditional Authority (TA) Nthalire in Chitipa District.

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Spokesperson for Chitipa DHO, Masida Nyirongo said that Nthalire Health Centre, Monday registered two cholera suspected cases and that the patients were symptomatic and they were isolated for treatment.

Nyirongo added that health personnel collected specimens for culture for conclusive confirmation.

“One specimen has grown vibrio cholerae. Meaning we have one confirmed Cholera case,” Nyirongo said.

One suspected case has come out negative and one positive. The positive case is that of a six-year-old boy from Kamkwamba Village in TA Nthalire in the district,” said Nyirongo.

Nyirongo said that the District Rapid Response Team will soon be dispatched to assess the situation in the area.

“Last year’s Cholera outbreak did not hit the southern part of Chitipa. It only affected the northern part of the district. We will intensify cholera preventive messages to contain the outbreak as soon as possible,” he said.

In a separate interview, TA Nthalire said he will soon embark sensitisation meetings on Cholera preventive measures.

“I will go flat out in my area sensitising my subjects on the importance of practicing good hygiene and sanitation,” he said.

 Last year the district registered 96 cholera cases with three deaths.