Weekly IDSR Bulletin

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

The national reporting performance for Epidemiological Week 22 has achieved a highly positive trajectory, registering 95.8% for reporting completeness and an outstanding 95.2% for reporting timeliness on the One Health Surveillance Platform (OHSP). This performance demonstrates the robust capacity of our integrated tracking systems to capture facility data with minimal informational latency. Out of the 33 designated national reporting sites, 90.9% (30 sites) successfully met the minimum target of 80% for both completeness and timeliness. This widespread platform adoption provides public health decision-makers with real-time situational awareness across the territory.

When evaluated against the previous historical baseline in Epidemiological Week 21, which achieved 95.6% completeness and 95.1% timeliness, Week 22 displays a general improvement across both surveillance domains. Completeness rose by 0.2 percentage points, while timeliness climbed by 0.1 percentage points. This positive trend was primarily anchored by Central Hospitals (100.0% on both metrics) and the South West and North West Zones. However, administrative delays persist at the district level: Balaka DHO 89.0% completeness and timeliness) and Karonga DHO (87.0% completeness and timeliness) showed improvements, yet Zomba, Dowa, and Karonga districts failed to surpass the reporting minimum targets of 80% for both indicators in the current cycle, presenting minor tracking blind spots.

To address these remaining gaps and maintain optimal surveillance parameters, the National IDSR Secretariat recommends immediate administrative follow-up. Zomba, Dowa, and Karonga DHOs must prioritize targeted administrative interventions to resolve database entry delays. IDSR coordinators and Zonal Epidemiology Officers must ensure timely verification and validation of clinical data immediately after facility focal points submit weekly forms to safeguard platform responsiveness during active outbreaks. Additionally, Mzuzu Central Hospital, Mwanza, Balaka, Nkhotakota, Mzimba North, and Salima must focus heavily on improving timeliness.

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

Malaria remains the dominant priority clinical condition under active surveillance in Malawi, with Epidemiological Week 22 recording an immense burden of 36,561 cases (35,837 OPD and 724 IPD) alongside 13 associated inpatient deaths. This heavy volume of clinical cases indicates intense transmission dynamics, placing constant pressure on primary care facilities, diagnostic laboratories, and essential antimalarial drug inventories. High-burden districts like Blantyre (4,343 cases), Chikwawa (2,857 cases), and Mangochi (2,711 cases) continue to represent key transmission hotspots requiring sustained public health intervention.

When contrasted with the previous baseline in Epidemiological Week 21, the malaria data reveals a downward trajectory in morbidity but a worrying spike in inpatient mortality. Total malaria cases decreased by 2.5%, dropping from 37,499 cases in Week 21 to 36,561 cases in Week 22. Conversely, confirmed inpatient deaths rose sharply by 225%, climbing from 4 up to 13. This synchronous increase in fatal outcomes suggests critical gaps in clinical therapeutic timing or severe clinical complications arising from delayed presentation across high-burden districts.

To address this rising transmission trend, the National Malaria Control Program must coordinate immediate antimalarial supply chain audits to ensure uninterrupted buffer stocks of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACTs) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs). Clinical teams must conduct rigorous mortality audits on the 13 recorded deaths to identify systemic or clinical delays in administering intravenous artesunate. Concurrently, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) must scale up risk communication campaigns to emphasize immediate care-seeking behaviors for all febrile illnesses.

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

The surveillance of waterborne enteric pathogens in Epidemiological Week 22 has flagged a significant clinical concern, with Typhoid fever cases recorded at 60 (53 OPD and 7 IPD) and Bloody Diarrhoea cases totaling 722 (717 OPD and 5 IPD). Waterborne disease transmission remains a persistent threat, highlighted by an active bloody diarrhoea outbreak in Nkhatabay (Usisya Health Facility, T/A Mbwana), which has cumulatively resulted in 133 cases, 24 bloody diarrhoea cases, and 6 suspected deaths. Risk factors in Nkhatabay include unsafe water sources, poor sanitation, and reliance on traditional medicine.

When compared to the baseline figures from Epidemiological Week 21, the enteric profile shows a significant downward trajectory. Bloody Diarrhoea cases fell by 8.4%, moving from 788 cases in Week 21 down to 722 cases in Week 22. Typhoid fever cases also experienced a sharp 46.9% decline, dropping from 113 down to 60 cases. Despite this national reduction, active transmission is concentrated in Lilongwe DHO (25 OPD, 3 IPD Typhoid cases) and Mchinji DHO (15 OPD, 1 IPD Typhoid cases), which requires immediate localized interventions.

Based on these findings, we recommend that Lilongwe and Mchinji DHOs implement targeted interventions against Typhoid fever. For the Nkhatabay outbreak, the rapid response team must continue active case finding, community awareness, and the distribution of 1% stock solution for household water treatment. Clinical teams must ensure stool and blood cultures are collected from suspected cases to monitor antimicrobial resistance patterns and guide precise therapy, while municipal authorities must prioritize water safety in hard-to-reach areas.

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

Epidemiological Week 22 recorded 85 suspected Cholera cases, of which 16 were confirmed cholera cases (1 lab-confirmed, 15 epi-linked), alongside a commendable zero-death record. This stable survival rate reflects the high quality of supportive rehydration and prompt case management within established Cholera Treatment Units (CTUs). On the zoonotic disease front, Mpox surveillance detected 1 new laboratory-confirmed case and 2 alerts, bringing the cumulative national total to 158 confirmed cases since April 2025, with Lilongwe representing 75.3% (119 cases) and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.63%.

A comparison with Epidemiological Week 21 shows that the Cholera outbreak is stabilizing. Suspected cholera cases dropped significantly by 43.0%, falling from 149 in Week 21 down to 85 in Week 22, while confirmed cases fell from 25 to 16. On the Mpox front, transmission remains low but active, moving from 0 new cases in Week 21 to 1 confirmed case in Week 22. Lilongwe, Mangochi, and Ntcheu remain the primary geographic risk areas for zoonotic spread.

To counter this Cholera threat, the National Incident Management System must continue to direct emergency water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) resources to high-incidence hotspots. In addition, CTU inventories of Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), IV fluids, and rapid cholera tests must be restocked to prevent shortages. For Mpox, the District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) must investigate the 2 new alerts within 24 hours, enforce strict active border screening, and maintain cross-border coordination with Mozambique and Tanzania.

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) presented 134 clinical cases and 4 inpatient deaths during Epidemiological Week 22. The severe respiratory burden continues to heavily affect central districts, with Dowa DHO reporting 41 cases and 1 death, Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) reporting 41 cases and 3 deaths, and Mulanje DHO reporting 20 cases. This consistent concentration highlights the need for continuous sentinel respiratory surveillance and clinical preparedness within tertiary facilities to handle sudden influxes of acute respiratory cases.

When evaluated against the baseline from Epidemiological Week 21, the SARI surveillance data displays a minor increase in respiratory morbidity but a highly concerning escalation in clinical mortality. National SARI cases rose by 3.9%, climbing from 129 cases in Week 21 to 134 cases in Week 22. SARI-associated deaths doubled, rising from 2 to 4. This persistent level of clinical mortality highlights the circulation of seasonal respiratory pathogens, such as Influenza A/B or RSV, requiring immediate diagnostic and clinical attention.

We recommend that clinical teams at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Dowa District Hospital, and other sentinel hospitals continue to systematically collect nasopharyngeal swabs from SARI patients for PCR diagnostic analysis. Healthcare facilities must ensure that pediatric oxygen delivery systems, clinical nebulizers, and essential respiratory therapeutics remain fully functional. Furthermore, clinicians must continue to document and report SARI cases on the OHSP, allowing public health teams to identify and respond to any new respiratory anomalies quickly.

Detailed Bulletin Analysis

Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) surveillance remains a high-priority public health activity, with cumulative confirmed Measles cases holding at 287 across 23 districts in 2026. This week recorded 79 new Measles alerts, emphasizing the persistent transmission risk in hotspot districts, with Balaka reporting the highest proportion at 20.2% (58 cumulative cases) and Kasungu at 15.3% (44 cumulative cases). Under the IDSR framework, Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance recorded 4 cases, and Meningococcal meningitis recorded 4 cases, highlighting the need for sustained immunization coverage and active case searching.

When compared to Epidemiological Week 21, the VPD surveillance profile displays a general decline. Weekly Measles alerts decreased by 6.0%, dropping from 84 cases in Week 21 to 79 cases in Week 22. Weekly AFP alerts declined from 6 to 4, representing normal expected baseline surveillance sensitivity. Most significantly, suspected Meningococcal meningitis cases experienced a sharp reduction, dropping from 26 cases in Week 21 down to 4 cases in Week 22, returning closer to expected baseline thresholds.

We recommend that the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) immediately schedules targeted supplemental immunization activities (SIA) in Balaka and other high-burden districts to interrupt Measles transmission, with special attention directed to Balaka’s ongoing situation. For the 4 reported AFP cases, district coordinators must ensure that dual stool samples are collected and sent to the laboratory under strict cold chain conditions. To prevent further Meningococcal meningitis spread, healthcare facilities must maintain robust laboratory diagnostics and prioritize lumbar punctures for all suspected meningitis presentations.