A cholera outbreak in Tonj state has killed 17 people, and left nearly 95 others sick in Tonj East Count, a government official said.

Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection spread through contaminated food or water.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, Makuei Wek, Head of Cholera Monitoring and Evaluation Department at Tonj’s Ministry of Health said that since 14 May, 254 cholera cases had been registered out of which 17 cholera deaths were recorded.

He pointed out that some patients admitted to healthcare centres in the area have already been discharged, while 95 cases are still receiving treatment.

The official also mentioned that four healthcare centres have been receiving between 4 to 5 cholera cases daily since the outbreak of the disease last month.