In March 2023, Tropical Cyclone Freddy struck Malawi and areas across the South Indian Ocean. Over 676 people died and over 659,000 people were displaced, ultimately worsening an ongoing cholera outbreak in the area.
Mfutso establishes the epidemiological context in Malawi leading up to Cyclone Freddy, emphasizing how the lack of early warning systems and lackluster data collection resulted in increased mortality rates across the area.