Health authorities in Malawi have confirmed a Rift Valley fever outbreak affecting livestock in Chiradzulu District, according to a May 15 report from the global disease monitoring platform BEACON. The outbreak has resulted in 107 cases and 24 deaths among cattle and goats. Although infections reportedly began earlier this year, laboratory confirmation was only obtained on May 8. Suspected cases are now under investigation in neighbouring Mulanje District, as officials monitor the viral threat to farming communities.
Update: A new maternal health initiative called the Beginnings Fund has approved $199 million in grants across six African nations, including Malawi, TIME reported on May 14. Backed by the Gates Foundation and other donors, the funding specifically targets the high mortality rate among mothers delivering by C-section, which accounts for over half of maternal deaths in the country. The project will also address medical staff shortages and supply public health facilities with point-of-care ultrasound machines.
Update: Global supply chain disruptions continue to threaten public health and nutrition in Malawi. A May 14 alert from the international aid organisation CARE highlighted the impact of Middle East shipping blockages on global hunger, while local projections from the Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee indicate that over four million Malawians face crisis levels of acute food insecurity. With local fuel prices rising by 35 percent and the Food and Agriculture Organization warning of delayed essential fertiliser imports, officials note that these combined shortages are compounding health vulnerabilities, particularly for women and young children experiencing severe malnutrition.