Cholera kills 77 in West Kordofan as Sudan holds emergency health meeting
June 1, Khartoum — Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health announced on Sunday that the cholera outbreak in West Kordofan state has recorded 308 cumulative cases and 77 deaths as of 27 May, as the ministry convened an emergency coordination meeting to address the deteriorating situation.
The meeting, chaired by Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim, also reviewed preparations to guard against Ebola, which has emerged in several African countries. It brought together ministry leadership and representatives of partner organisations, attending both in person and via video call.
Of the 308 confirmed cases, 99 patients have recovered while 32 remain under treatment. The meeting discussed ongoing interventions and operational challenges, chief among them difficulties accessing affected areas and delivering medical supplies.
The minister directed authorities to precisely identify the needs required to combat cholera in West Kordofan and develop effective mechanisms for delivering medicines and medical supplies to the affected areas, while intensifying interventions in border states to limit the spread of the disease. He also stressed the importance of maintaining efforts against Ebola given its high fatality rate, and called for greater support to strengthen Sudan’s capacity to confront epidemics.
Representatives of partner organisations pledged to continue supporting the ministry in combating both cholera and Ebola.
West Kordofan has been experiencing a worrying cholera outbreak since late May 2026, amid deteriorating health conditions and medical supply shortages.
In April, Sudan’s Ministry of Health, working with government institutions and the World Health Organization, launched a plan to reduce cholera infection rates and cut deaths by 90% by 2030. The plan was released on 16 April — six weeks after the ministry had declared the end of a previous cholera outbreak following mass vaccination campaigns. It targets a national cholera infection rate of fewer than 42 cases per 100,000 people.