UN concerned about rapid rise in cholera in Sudan, hundreds dead

The United Nations has sounded the alarm after cholera cases in Sudan rose by almost 40% in less than two weeks.

Sudan’s Health Ministry reported Monday that there are currently 21,288 cholera cases with 626 deaths in 11 of the country’s 18 states.

This is a sharp increase from the 15,577 cases and 506 deaths reported on September 26, with the majority of cases concentrated in the eastern states.

Cholera is a highly contagious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration and can be fatal if left untreated.

According to the WHO, the disease is usually transmitted through contaminated food or water.

Kassala is currently the most affected region where UNICEF, together with the Sudanese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), is conducting a second round of oral cholera vaccinations.

The campaign began last month with the aim of containing the spread of the disease.

“There is no doubt that the number of cases is increasing quite rapidly,” said Richard Brennan, WHO regional emergencies director.

“We are seeing faster spread than during last year’s outbreak, so the case numbers are concerning. That’s why we’re stepping up our efforts here together with the Ministry of Health and partners like UNICEF.”

The cholera outbreak was officially declared on August 12, after a new wave of cases emerged on July 22.

The spread has been exacerbated by recent heavy rains and floods, particularly in eastern Sudan, home to millions of people displaced by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

UNICEF delivered 404,000 doses of the cholera vaccine to Sudan on September 9, and further vaccination campaigns are planned for other affected countries.

On Saturday, a plane chartered by UNICEF arrived with 1.4 million more doses of oral cholera vaccines, aiming to reach 1.81 million people in the hardest-hit states, including Kassala, River Nile and Gedaref.

Brennan noted that it is still too early to assess the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign, which is still in its early stages.

He added that health workers are increasing surveillance efforts to identify new cases and that there are plans to distribute an additional 2.2 million vaccine doses in the coming weeks.

“Cholera vaccines in and of themselves are not a panacea for cholera,” Brennan said.

“They are a very useful tool, but we still need to continue with all other disease control measures, such as: B. monitoring, treating patients, community engagement and, crucially, providing access to clean water and sanitation.”

According to Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Sudan’s health system is in “free fall” with 75% of health facilities in Khartoum non-functional.

She noted that conditions in the western Darfur states were even worse.

Sudan has been embroiled in an ongoing conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the Sudanese military and the RSF in the capital, Khartoum.

Since then, violence has spread to other parts of the country, with Darfur among the worst fighting.

The United Nations estimates that around 20,000 people have been killed and thousands more injured since the conflict began.

Over 10 million people have been displaced, including 2.4 million who have fled to neighboring countries and beyond.

This article contains reporting from The Associated Press