More than 350 cases of cholera have been recorded in a new outbreak in Sudan in just a few weeks, with at least 22 deaths reported. The ongoing civil war in the country has made it challenging to reach and register victims. Experts believe that many more people may have been infected but not recorded. The outbreak has been declared an epidemic by the Health Minister due to heavy rain contaminating drinking water.
The cholera epidemic is the latest crisis to hit Sudan, where fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has been ongoing. Sudan has a history of cholera outbreaks, with a previous outbreak in 2017 resulting in the deaths of at least 700 people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 78 deaths from cholera in Sudan so far this year, with 2,400 people infected across the country. Most cases have been in people who were not vaccinated against cholera.
The outbreak has been reported in several states in Sudan, with the most cases reported in Kassala, El Gezira, and Khartoum. Heavy rains and flooding have contributed to the spread of the disease, with contaminated water supplies posing a significant risk.
Cholera is a bacterial disease spread through contaminated water. Treatment includes rehydration, antibiotics, and zinc supplements. The conflict in Sudan has damaged infrastructure, including water and sanitation systems, leading to poor hygiene conditions that facilitate the spread of diseases like cholera.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, with preventable diseases spreading quickly in conflict-affected areas. The heavy rain is forecast to continue until September, exacerbating the situation. Efforts are being made to control the cholera epidemic, but the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis pose challenges to containment efforts.
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