The African Union's Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) said today it was concerned about the spread of the cholera outbreak in Malawi to other neighboring countries, namely Mozambique.

"We are working closely with the Malawian authorities to contain the cholera outbreak, which is a preventable and treatable disease as long as you have the tools," said the acting director of Africa CDC, Ahmed Ogwell, at a press conference, quoted by Lusa.

"We fear that the disease could cross Malawi's borders and begin to affect other neighboring countries, especially Mozambique," he added, quoted by Efe.

At the virtual meeting, Ogwell admitted to "great concern" about the various cholera outbreaks that are currently taking place in Africa, such as in Malawi, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique and Kenya, among others, which have already caused more than 19,000 infections this year.

"The country most affected is Malawi," he said, pointing to a mortality rate of 3.5% from this disease, but emphasizing that the problem is not only in this country.

"New outbreaks of cholera may appear as many parts of the continent approach their rainy seasons, which means that access to safe drinking water will be even more difficult for many people," he said.

At least 1,023 people have died in Malawi since March due to the cholera outbreak that has hit the whole country, according to the authorities, who report more than 31,000 infections.

Cholera is a disease that causes severe diarrhea, is treatable, but can cause death from dehydration if not promptly combated - and is caused largely by eating food and water contaminated by poor sanitation.

Cholera has already killed 16 people in Mozambique.

"We have a cumulative 1,376 cases of cholera and 16 deaths, which correspond to a lethality rate of 1.2%," said Domingos Guiole, from the public health surveillance department at the Mozambican Ministry of Health (Misau), quoted on January 16 by private television STV, which led the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, to advocate "redoubling hygiene precautions".

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cholera remains "a global threat to public health and is an indicator of inequity and lack of development".