Attachments
Date when the trigger was met
14-03-2024
What happened, where and when?
The resurgence of the Dengue epidemic in Mali, officially declared on 9 September 2023, marked one of the most severe outbreaks in recent decades. As the number of cases rose rapidly, the Ministry of Health and Social Development took early action by organizing a national press conference on 29 November 2023 to inform and educate the public about the outbreak’s severity and progression.
Building on these efforts, the Ministry activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Department on 13 December 2023 and established an Incident Management System (IMS) specifically dedicated to coordinating the response to both Dengue and Zika. This structure provided a strategic framework for planning and implementing response activities at all levels of the health system.
In parallel, the Mali Red Cross (MRC), in close collaboration with government authorities, mobilized support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). A request for financial assistance was submitted to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF), enabling the rapid launch of targeted interventions in the most affected areas—namely, the Bamako District and the Kayes region.
Thanks to DREF funding, the MRC was able to carry out essential activities focused on risk communication and community engagement. Community volunteers were deployed to raise awareness about Dengue, its symptoms, and preventive measures. These outreach efforts included interpersonal communication and mass messaging through local radio broadcasts, ensuring broad reach and community involvement.
Despite these interventions, the epidemiological situation remained alarming. According to the Situation Report issued on 18 March 2024, a total of 144 suspected cases were reported that week, with 35 confirmed. Since the beginning of 2024 alone, some 2,053 suspected cases and 355 confirmed cases had been recorded. Cumulatively, between week 34 of 2023 and week 11 of 2024, a total of 7,422 suspected cases and 1,163 confirmed cases were reported across 21 health districts in six regions, resulting in 35 deaths, i.e., a case fatality rate of 3.01%.
Regarding the Zika virus, the situation remained relatively stable. While 22 cases had been confirmed since the onset of the epidemic— primarily in Koulikoro, Sikasso, and Bamako—no new cases were recorded during the reporting period.
In a coordination meeting held on 13 March 2024 at the Directorate General of Health, several key challenges were identified. These included the need for sustained access to fumigation materials, sampling kits, and rapid diagnostic tests at all levels of the health system. Additionally, there was a pressing requirement for financial resources to continue implementing the national Dengue-Zika incident action plan. To address these gaps, the IMS appealed to partners for technical and operational support. Priority actions included the validation of patient care protocols, adaptation of training modules, training of trainers and service providers, logistics support, enhanced supervision, and sustained vector control. Crucially, the continued engagement of the MRC was requested by the Ministry to maintain community-level outreach and education activities, supported through the DREF.
Through this coordinated approach, the response has contributed to improved public awareness, stronger inter-agency collaboration, and a more structured response mechanism. However, the persistence of new cases underscores the need for continued vigilance and sustained investment in prevention, diagnosis, and community engagement.