At least 984 people have suffered from cholera since the disease broke out in Juba in late May, leading to 34 deaths, according to a health source.
The Central Equatoria State Minstry of Health says that cumulative number of cases as of 14 July is 984, with 30 new cases admitted to Juba Teaching Hospital and other related health facilities on 14 July with one death at the Gumbo Cholera Treatment Unit.
State Health Ministry Surveillance Officer Yona Kenyi said of the 33 deaths 18 occurred in Juba Teaching Hospital and 15 at other sites. The surveillance officer added that there is a high case fatality rate since the onset of the outbreak.
The World Health Organization reported similar figures in an update current to 13 July, saying there were a total of 953 cholera cases including 34 deaths. Of these, 866 cases were recorded in Juba County while 87 cases were recorded in Bor County.
“The initial cases in Juba were traced back to 18 May 2015 in UN House PoC where the first cholera case was confirmed on 1 June 2015. Most of the cholera cases in Juba have been reported from Gumbo followed by New site, Gudele 2, and Juba 3 PoC,” reads the update.
Separately, there is an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea in Kajo Keji in Central Equatoria state. The hospital’s administrator, Simon Sekwat, told Radio Miraya most patients have improved and were discharged and only three cases remain in the wards.
The other health source estimated the number of cases in Kajo Kejo at “up to 60” as of 14 July. According to the World Health Organization these “suspected cholera cases” tested negative for cholera at the National Public Health Laboratory.
Photo: Cholera treatment centre in South Sudan in 2014 (Medair/Wendy van Amerongen)