MPOX SITUATION.
by
Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Grace Funsani, Chriswell Nkoloma and Settie Kanyanda.
Malawi has recorded two new laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases as of October 6, 2025, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 128 since the first case was recorded on April 17, 2025. These cases exclude two cross-border cases. The update comes from the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) in its Mpox Spot Report, Issue 62, published on October 6, 2025.
Both new cases are young female children who reported to health facilities on September 30, 2025.
An 11-year-old female child from Area 25, who reported at the Area 25 Health Facility and a 9-year-old female child from Chilinde 1, who reported at the Chilinde Health Facility.
The patients presented with common symptoms, including fever, cough, and a skin rash, and reportedly had no underlying health conditions. Lesion swab samples were collected and sent to the laboratory on the same day they visited the facilities, and Mpox infection was confirmed through testing on September 30, 2025. Neither of the confirmed cases has a history of travel outside of Malawi.
Malawi’s Coordinated Public Health Response
The Public Health Institute of Malawi has implemented a multi-faceted strategy using a One-Health approach to contain the outbreak, protect public health, and provide care.
🚨
Activation
Incident Management System (IMS) Activated
🤝
Collaboration
Multi-sectoral One-Health Surveillance
🏃
Action
Rapid Response Teams Deployed
📚
Engagement
Risk Communication & Community Engagement
“The first case was recorded in Lilongwe district on April 16, 2025. Later additional cases were registered. All the cases are males within the age range of 2 to 38 years: a 30-year-old from Phwetekere- Area 36, a 33-year-old from Kawale 2, 38 year-old from Chilinde, a 35 year-old from Area 36, Kandikole, an 18 year-old from Area 36, Tumbwe, Traditional Authority (TA) Tsabango, Lilongwe district, and a two year-old child from Michesi 1 village, TA Mponda, Mangochi district.Three cases from Lilongwe have recovered and have been discharged from clinical care, while the other three are still under clinical care . No death has been reported.”
Grace Fusani – Mpox Incident Manager, PHIM.
MPOX Situation As of September 21, 2025
Latest Updates and Outbreak Timeline from the Public Health Institute of Malawi
This detailed report, compiled from multiple Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) documents, provides a comprehensive overview of the Mpox outbreak. The latest confirmed case on September 21, 2025, brings the cumulative total to 111.
Outbreak Summary and Key Metrics
111
Total Cases
23
In Isolation
84
Discharged
1
Total Deaths
Affected Districts
The outbreak has spread across 12 districts in Malawi. The majority of cases are concentrated in Lilongwe, the capital.
| District | Confirmed Cases |
|---|---|
| Lilongwe | 93 |
| Blantyre | 3 |
| Mangochi | 3 |
| Salima | 3 |
| Ntcheu | 3 |
| Likoma | 2 |
| Nkhatabay | 1 |
| Mzimba South | 1 |
| Ntchisi | 1 |
| Karonga | 1 |
| Zomba | 1 |
| Chitipa | 1 |
Timeline of Confirmed Cases
September 8, 2025
Two new cases confirmed: A 40-year-old male from Area 36 and a 27-year-old female from Biwi, both in Lilongwe. This brought the total to 99 cases.
September 12, 2025
Three new cases confirmed: A 45-year-old female (Lilongwe), a 12-year-old male (Salima), and a 4-year-old female (Lilongwe). This updated the total to 102 cases.
September 13, 2025
Eight new cases confirmed: All from Lilongwe district, bringing the cumulative total to 110 cases. The cases included a 14-year-old female, a 22-year-old female, an 8-year-old male, a 4-year-old female, a 15-year-old female, a 4-year-old female, a 33-year-old male, and a 15-year-old female.
September 21, 2025
One new case confirmed: A 22-year-old male businessman from Lilongwe, bringing the total to 111 cases. He reported symptoms on September 15, and the infection was confirmed on September 17.
Public Health Response Details
The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) is continuing to manage the outbreak with a multi-sectoral approach.
- Rapid Response Teams: District Rapid Response Teams (DRRTs) are actively conducting contact tracing, case follow-ups, and investigations.
- Surveillance: Surveillance activities are ongoing, with a focus on disease prevention, early warning, and outbreak containment.
- System Performance: For Epidemiological Week 37 (September 8-14), the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) reporting was 90.7% for completeness and 83.3% for timeliness.
- Other Public Health Alerts: In addition to Mpox, other health alerts reported during the week included Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (42 cases, 3 deaths), Diarrhoea with blood (718 cases), Typhoid fever (23 cases), and Meningococcal meningitis (4 cases, 1 death).
Source: Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) Weekly Situational Reports and Spot Reports.
What response activities have so far been undertaken ?
PHIM has activated its Incident Management System (IMS) for Mpox and is working with various sectors, including animal health, civic education, and disaster management, using One Health Approach
1. Surveillance.
Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to conduct contact tracing and investigate cases. Surveillance systems have been enhanced at the community level, health facilities, and points of entry (PoEs).
The district team are being trained on Mpox through a collaborative effort involving Amref Health Africa, the US CDC, and the World Bank, which have provided the necessary resources. Initial training, supported by Amref Health Africa, has been conducted in the Chitipa and Karonga districts. This district level training will be extended to all districts to ensure comprehensive staff preparedness covering critical areas such as Mpox Etiology and Virology, Transmission Pathways, Prevention and Control Measures, and Clinical Management etc.
2. Case Management.
Case management guidelines have been developed and distributed, and isolation facilities have been identified.
3. Labolatory.
Samples from suspected cases are being tested using PCR, and genomic sequencing of the Mpox virus is underway.
Essential medicines and PPEs have been distributed to districts and Messages about Mpox prevention are being disseminated in local languages through various channels, including posters, social media, leaflets, and audio recordings. PHIM is working to address these challenges and will continue to provide updates on the situation.
[…] ministry of health has announced three new cases of mpox in the capital, Lilongwe, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11 since the country’s first was reported in […]
[…] ministry of health has announced three new cases of mpox in the capital, Lilongwe, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11 since the country’s first was reported in […]
[…] ministry of health has announced three new cases of mpox in the capital, Lilongwe, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11 since the country’s first was reported in […]
[…] ministry of health has announced three new cases of mpox in the capital, Lilongwe, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11 since the country’s first was reported in […]
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