Health ministry declares Cholera disease outbreak in Unity State
May 7, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s Health ministry has declared a Cholera outbreak in Unity State’s Rubkona county after tests from the National Public Health Laboratory in the capital, Juba confirmed eight cases.
To date, the country’s Health ministry said in a statement, a total of 31 Cholera cases including one death have been reported from Rubkona town and Bentiu internally displaced peoples (IDP) camp.
Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection reportedly caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
“The confirmed cases presented with watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration and were admitted and managed at MSF Bentiu PoC [Protection of Civilian] hospital. All cases have been discharged,” partly reads the ministry’s statement extended to Sudan Tribune Saturday.
Following the confirmation of the initial case on 14 April 2022, the ministry with support from partners reportedly deployed a rapid response team to investigate the causes and support state level response from April 22-29.
Adequate supplies have been deployed to support the investigation and treatment of cases in Rubkona County, the ministry noted, adding that government, with support from its partners conducted two rounds of oral cholera vaccination in Rubkona County in January and March this year.
“The Ministry of Health and partners are conducting further case search in the households and their neighborhood to identify additional cholera cases following a steady rise in acute watery diarrhea cases reported in both the Bentiu and Rubkona IDP camps and the host community,” said the release.
The ministry urged the public not to panic, but remain calm and observe all the precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations with inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor personal hygiene, and inadequate access to improved sanitation facilities.
Such precautionary measures, it further said, include drinking and using water that has been made safe after treating with chlorine or if boiling; bringing water to a complete boil for at least 1 minute; always washing hands with soap and water after using the latrine, before handling and eating food; using latrines or bury feces and not defecating in water bodies; cooking food well and covering food, among others.
“The public is further urged to be vigilant and report all suspected cholera cases to the national outbreak hotline 6666 or the nearest health facility, County Health Department, and/or State Ministry of Health,” it stressed.
(ST)