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Tag: E&Surveillance

  • Mpox Situation in Malawi.

    Mpox Situation in Malawi.

    MPOX SITUATION.

    National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (NPHEOC), Lilongwe, Malawi, 2025.
    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.

    Mpox Outbreak Report – 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

Cases
Malawi Mpox Outbreak
Deaths
Malawi Mpox Outbreak

“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

MPOX Situation As of September 21, 2025

Latest Updates and Outbreak Timeline from the Public Health Institute of Malawi

As of September 21, 2025

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 ?

Cases
Malawi Mpox Outbreak

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

Mpox Suspect in Lilongwe

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.

Chitipa -Mpox District Training 7/May/2025.

2. Case Management.

Case management guidelines have been developed and distributed, and isolation facilities have been identified.

Kamuzu Central Hospital – Toilets Supported by Amref
Kamuzu Central Hospital – Isolation Unit Supported by WHO
Kamuzu Central Hospital – Toilets Supported by Amref

3. Labolatory.

Samples from suspected cases are being tested using PCR, and genomic sequencing of the Mpox virus is underway.

Mpox sample testing in the national laboratory

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.

  • PHIM and Partners Strengthens District Public Health Emergency Response Capacity Through PHEOC Training.

    PHIM and Partners Strengthens District Public Health Emergency Response Capacity Through PHEOC Training.

    DISTRICT PHEOC TRAINING

    Dowa, Malawi – April 7th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Ella Chamanga, Shaibu Safali, James Jere and Settie Kanyanda.

    With significant efforts to enhance the nation’s preparedness and response framework through rolling out comprehensive Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) training targeted at district level public health officials, the Public Health Instittute of Malawi (PHIM) with funding from the World Bank has rolled out the first district training sessions.

    This crucial initiative stems from the recently rolled out National-PHEOC Training of Trainers (ToT) conducted weeks ago fulfilling the PHIM’s core mandate, to effectively prepare for, prevent, detect, respond to, and mitigate public health emergencies (PHEs) and threats across all levels of the Malawian health system, now focusing on district level. The training program has been designed to strengthen coordination and operational efficiency within the multi-sectoral multi-disciplinary response architecture managed by the PHEOC.

    In an era where public health threats, from infectious disease outbreaks like Cholera, Mpox and Measles arising from potential impacts of climate change, demand robust and rapid responses, the presence of highly skilled Health Care Workers (HCWs) at the district level is paramount. All twenty nine districts often represent the front lines of public health surveillance and initial response. Therefore, according to this critical need, PHIM has launched the first phase of this districts-focused training program, initially encompassing officers from seven key districts: Lilongwe, Dedza, Salima, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Balaka, and Phalombe.

    Group work during training session in Mponela.

    The District-PHEOC serves as the central nervous system for coordinating all activities during a public health emergency within the district. It functions as a hub for information gathering and analysis, resource mobilization and allocation, strategic decision-making, and communication among various responding agencies supporting the district, including government MDAs, NGOs, and international partners.

    By equipping district officers who are often the first responders and key data sources with indepth knowledge of PHEOC protocols, Incident Management Systems (IMS), risk communication strategies, and data reporting mechanisms, PHIM aims to significantly improve interagency synergy and streamline communication channels, clearer roles and responsibilities, and ultimately, a more timely, coherent, and effective response to diverse public health threats, ranging from disease outbreaks to natural disasters with health consequences.
    Dr. Mike Chisema, EPI Manager.
    Dr. Chitsa Banda, Deputy Director Rensiponsible for Research Division.

    dr. Mike chisema and dr. chitsa Banda lecturing.

    Participants in the training include District Environmental Health Officers, Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs), DODMA officers, clinicians, and other key personnel involved in public health surveillance and response. The curriculum covers essential modules on the PHEOC structure and functions, roles within an Incident Management System, emergency coordination principles, information management, and effective communication during crises.

    Dr. Annie Chauma Mwale-PHIM, led the team of facilitators.

    This training represents a vital investment in our human resources available at the district, stated Dr. Annie Chauma Mwale – PHIM. She said “Empowering our district teams with standardized PHEOC operational skills is fundamental to building a truly resilient national public health system. When the districts are strong and coordinated, the entire national response mechanism functions more effectively, safeguarding the health and well-being of the nation.”

    PHIM plans to extend this vital training to cover all districts in subsequent phases, ensuring nationwide competency in PHEOC operations. This first phase of District – PHEOC training portrays PHIM’s unwavering commitment to proactively strengthening Malawi’s health security architecture. The skills and knowledge imparted during these sessions are expected to be instrumental in ensuring a more coordinated, rapid, and impactful response to any future public health challenges the nation may face.

  • PHIM Strategic and Operation Plans Dissemination

    PHIM Strategic and Operation Plans Dissemination

    PHIM-Documents Dissemination.

    Amarylis Hotel – Blantyre, Malawi – March 26th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri and Settie Kanyanda

    The Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM) has successfully executed a nationwide dissemination initiative, distributing critical strategic documents aimed at reinforcing the nation’s capacity to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.

    PHIM disseminated the newly developed National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) Handbook, the Malawi Multi-sector Cholera Control Plan, the PHIM Strategic Plan, Priority Areas for Multi-Sectoral Interventions (PAMI) Booklet, National Public Health Research Strategic Plan, and the Malawi Multi-Hazard Emergency Response Plan among others. These documents represent a significant advancement in Malawi’s public health infrastructure, providing essential frameworks for coordinated and effective emergency response.

    This comprehensive Multi-Sectoral and Multi-Disciplinary effort as it was during the development is as the same with during dissemination highlighting Malawi’s commitment to proactive public health management.

    The development of these documents involved extensive collaboration with various stakeholders, acknowledging the intricate and multisectoral nature of public health emergencies.

    The PHEOC Handbook, in particular, serves as a cornerstone for our emergency response efforts. It equips our national and district teams with the necessary guidelines to ensure timely and adequate responses to public health crises. By aligning our efforts through these strategic documents, we are significantly enhancing our national resilience and promoting a unified approach to safeguarding the health of all Malawians.

    This collaborative process ensured that the resulting resources are comprehensive, practical, and tailored to Malawi’s specific needs. PHIM focused on in-depth discussions with stakeholders present ensuring that all are thoroughly familiar with the content of the disseminated documents and their respective roles in emergency response protocols. Key emphasis was placed on the importance of interagency collaboration and coordinated action, recognizing that effective public health crisis management requires a cohesive and unified approach as emphasized by Dr. Evelyn Chitsa Banda, Deputy Director of PHIM responsible for the National Public Health Research and Development during the dissemination in Blantyre.

    By equipping national and district officers with these vital documents and knowledge, PHIM is taking a decisive step towards building a robust, responsive, and resilient public health system in Malawi. This initiative signifies a strong commitment to proactive public health management and the protection of not only citizens of Malawi, but every person living in Malawi.

    The dissemination events, held concurrently in Zomba in the south, Mponela in the center, and Mzuzu in the north, facilitated in-depth discussions and training sessions for a diverse group of stakeholders. Participants included representatives, from relevant ministries, agencies, and departments nationwide like, Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) the Malawi Defense Force, The Ministry of Agriculture (Animal Health) and The Malawi Police, reflecting the multisectoral and multidisciplinary approach integral to effective public health management.

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    Mzuzu, Mzimba-North
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    Mponela, Dowa.
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    Mponela, Dowa.
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    Zomba
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    Blantyre

    By equipping national and district officers with these vital documents and knowledge, PHIM is taking a decisive step towards building a robust, responsive, and resilient public health system in Malawi.