South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
A cholera outbreak in South Sudan has killed 1,400 people and infected 79,000 since it was declared in October 2024.
“South Sudan is facing a prolonged and geographically expanding cholera emergency, with over 79,000 cases and more than 1,400 deaths reported to date,” said a communiqué issued on Tuesday following an extraordinary Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Cholera in Juba.
The meeting was convened to address the alarming escalation of the cholera outbreak across the country.
“This is not merely a public health crisis but a multi-sectoral emergency exacerbated by flooding, displacement, and limited access to basic services,” it stated.
The meeting resolved to ensure the rapid deployment of medical, WASH, and nutrition supplies in high-risk counties ahead of peak flooding.
It agreed to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential health and nutrition services in affected and at-risk areas.
It also resolved to expand surveillance coverage and surge capacity for early detection and response.
“Emergency WASH and risk communication: Immediate scale-up of chlorinated water access, latrine desludging, hygiene promotion, and community engagement.”
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management was tasked with overseeing intersectoral coordination and supporting the operationalisation of the Inter-Ministerial Cholera and Flood Task Force.
The Ministry of Health will also lead the technical response, ensure continuity of critical health and nutrition services, and oversee the effective rollout of oral cholera vaccine campaigns.
In October 2024, the National Ministry of Health declared a cholera outbreak in Renk, Upper Nile State.
The first suspected case was reported on 28 September 2024 after the County Health Department received a report of a suspected case of cholera at the point of entry in Renk, a border town between Sudan and South Sudan.
This declaration followed reports of 44 suspected cholera cases and six laboratory-confirmed cases on 23 October 2024 in Renk, Upper Nile State.
The South Sudanese government, in collaboration with the United Nations, launched a vaccination programme in December 2024 to combat the escalating number of cases.
Cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes diarrhoea, leading to severe dehydration and can be fatal if not immediately treated, according to the World Health Organization. It is transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.
