An analysis by the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa says cholera cases have risen sharply in Southern Africa this year, with 4,320 cases and 56 deaths recorded across Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe between January 1 and February 15, 2026, up from 586 cases and 11 deaths over the same period in 2025, according to WHO AFRO.
WHO AFRO links the increase to severe flooding triggered by cyclones, infrastructure damage, and population displacement that has left some communities with inadequate water and sanitation, with Malawi listed among the countries currently reporting cholera cases, according to WHO AFRO.