Madagascar

Madagascar is on alert following the identification of a low weather pressure system off the north-east coast of the country, which is expected to strengthen in the southwestern Indian Ocean basin. The weather system is already causing weather disturbances in northern Madagascar and on the islands of Réunion and Mauritius.

On 23 April, Tropical Cyclone Kenneth formed north of Madagascar and east of the Aldabra Atoll, north of the Mozambique Channel. Its path is expected to pass over the northern tip of the Comoros islands on 24 April and continue onward to northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania.

Flooding in Malawi and Mozambique had affected nearly 843,000 people and caused at least 60 deaths as of 11 March, according to preliminary reports from the respective Governments. In Malawi, nearly 739,800 people had been impacted, according to the Government, with 45 deaths and 577 injuries recorded.

Madagascar has been experiencing a measles outbreak since early October 2018. The outbreak started in the urban health district of Antananarivo Renivohitra (in the heart of the capital city, Antanarivo) on 4 October 2018 when three measles cases were confirmed at the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar (IPM) by serology.

On 19 August 2018, one suspected case of bubonic plague was reported in Ankazobe, Analamanga region. Subsequently, suspected pneumonic and bubonic cases have been reported in endemic and non-endemic areas of Madagascar. From 19 August to 20 September 2018, 15 cases including 5 deaths have been reported from 7 out of the 114 districts of the country in 5 regions.

Severe drought conditions during southern Madagascar’s rainy season from November 2017 to April 2018 has led to nearly dry dams in many parts of the south. This dryness has affected livestock’s access to water and pastureland, which has led to poor livestock body conditions as many are subsisting on burnt cactus leaves in the absence of viable pastureland.

Since the first week of January 2018, Mauritius has been experiencing heavy rainfall over the island (over 2,000mm) within one week. On Saturday 13 January 2018, a cyclone warning Class 1 was issued for the Rodrigues due to the presence of a tropical disturbance near the island.

Since the beginning of the month, several areas of Madagascar have been affected by floods triggered by heavy rain, resulting in at least 6 deaths and widespread damage. According to media reports, 4 people died in Antananarivo (central Madagascar), and approximately 400 were affected.