Sudan declares cholera outbreak as 16 dead in Gedaref State
October 1, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan has declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State after four of the 264 suspected cases were confirmed and 16 deaths associated with the deadly disease reported since September 25.
Investigations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), are ongoing to determine whether cholera has also spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, where increased cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported.
The WHO Representative in Sudan, Dr. Nima Abid visited Gedaref on 17 September and met with health authorities and partners to coordinate responses.
“Unhindered access to affected and neighbouring localities is essential to respond effectively to the ongoing outbreak,” said Dr Abid.
He added, “A cholera outbreak can have a devastating effect in the context of a health system already overstretched because of war, shortages of medical supplies and health workers, malnutrition and access challenges.”
According to WHO, supplies that included antibiotics, oral rehydration solution and intravenous fluids were already provided to six states, including Gedaref, Khartoum and South Kordofan before the outbreak of cholera was declared.
Also provided, it stated, were rapid diagnostic test kits to all the 18 states of Sudan.
Currently, WHO said it is deploying rapid response teams to the affected localities and is actively supporting the Ministry of Health to transfer samples of suspected cholera cases to the Public Health Laboratory in Port Sudan, a facility capacitated by the UN health agency to provide a national reference service.
With support from WHO and health partners, the Health ministry is also coordinating efforts to scale up access to clean water and sanitation facilities, as well as ensuring affected and at-risk communities are aware of transmission risks and proper hygiene practices to reduce contamination risks and prevent further spread of the outbreak.
As a result of the war that erupted in mid-April 2023 between rival military factions, Sudan is grappling with unprecedented mass displacement, disease outbreaks and malnutrition, which have been compounded by heavy rains and flooding.
The health system is reportedly overwhelmed by attacks on health facilities and scarcity of medical supplies and equipment, health workers and operational funds.
Health authorities in the country say about 70% of hospitals in conflict-affected states are currently non-functional, while the active hospitals and clinics in non-conflict-affected states are overwhelmed by the influx of internally displaced people.
(ST)