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  • WHO Strengthens Malawi’s Disease Surveillance with Key Donation.

    WHO Strengthens Malawi’s Disease Surveillance with Key Donation.

    THE WHO CONTRIBUTES TO NPHL

    NPHL, Lilongwe, Malawi – May 15th, 2025.
    by
    Moses Nyambalo Phiri in collaboration with Happy Abraham Manda, Mr. Henry Limula and Settie Kanyanda.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO), with support from UK Aid (UKAID), has made a significant donation delivery of essential laboratory items to the National Public Health Laboratories (NPHL) to the National Public Health Laboratory, PHIM. This timely contribution will aid Malawi’s capacity to monitor and respond to various public health threats, including the ongoing Mpox outbreak

    The NPHRL plays a pivotal role in Malawi’s health surveillance systems, tracking a range of diseases. Currently, a key focus is the surveillance of Mpox, a viral disease that has affected several African nations, with Malawi reporting six confirmed cases by May 15th, 2025.

    NPHL receiving the donations.

    To ensure the safety of frontline health workers during critical activities such as outbreak investigations, sample collection, and the implementation of control measures, the WHO generously donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs). The consignment included vital items such as gloves, aprons, and gumboots.

    THE WHO and NPHL Team

    Receiving the donations on behalf of the NPHRL, Mr. Joseph Bitilinyu Bangoh expressed his sincere appreciation to the WHO for their prompt response citing the current response activities NPHL – PHIM is undertaking to contain Mpox. He further acknowledged the WHO’s consistent support to PHIM during the Mpox pandemic and in the surveillance of other significant diseases, including conjunctivitis, cholera, and influenza.

    He earnestly appealed to the WHO to maintain their invaluable assistance, even in the face of potential financial constraints affecting international organizations. Dr. Nelly Yatich, representing the WHO during the donation, warmly assured the PHIM staff of the WHO’s unwavering commitment to supporting Malawi, particularly during health crises like the current Mpox outbreaks. She emphasized the WHO’s proactive approach in providing the necessary equipment swiftly to aid in the effective management of Mpox cases.

    Mr. Ishmael Bashir, Second from left.

    During the event, Mr. Bangoh also formally welcomed Mr. Ishmael Bashir, a resident delegated from the (WHO) to work at PHIM, NPHRL. He reiterated his gratitude to the WHO for this additional support, highlighting that Mr. Bashir’s presence will provide valuable insight into Malawi’s needs and facilitate targeted assistance.

    This has indicated the robust collaboration that exists between the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Public Health Institute of Malawi (PHIM). Their joint efforts are crucial for enhancing Malawi’s public health systems and protecting its citizens. This partnership is expected to continue with future collaborations.

  • 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.

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    Activation

    Incident Management System (IMS) Activated

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    Collaboration

    Multi-sectoral One-Health Surveillance

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    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.

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 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.

    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.

    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.