Genomic Surveillance of Climate-Amplified Cholera Outbreak, Malawi, 2022-2023.

ABSTRACT: In the aftermath of 2 extreme weather events in 2022, Malawi experienced a severe cholera outbreak; 59,325 cases and 1,774 deaths were reported by March 31, 2024. We generated 49 Vibrio cholerae full genomes from isolates collected during December 2022-March 2023. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic methods confirmed that the Malawi outbreak strains originated from Pakistan's 2022 cholera outbreak. That finding aligns with substantial travel between the 2 countries. The estimated most recent ancestor of this lineage was from June-August 2022, coinciding with Pakistan's floods and cholera surge. Our analysis indicates that major floods in Malawi contributed to the outbreak; reproduction numbers peaked in late December 2022. We conclude that extreme weather events and humanitarian crises in Mal

SUBMITTER: Chabuka L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12123921 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature