At least 19 people have died and more than 600 cholera cases have been reported since February in Western Bahr el-Ghazal state, health officials said Sunday.
State Health Director General Dr. Christopher Paul Madut told Radio Tamazuj that the number of recorded cases has risen to 653. Jur River County alone has reported 535 cases and 12 deaths, while Wau Municipality recorded 119 cases and seven deaths in the past week.
“We have 199 cases and six deaths in Wau town,” Madut said. “The first cholera case was reported in Jur River County, and since then, we’ve had 535 cases with 19 deaths. Yesterday in Wau South, there were nine new cases and one death.”
Madut urged residents to follow health guidelines to prevent further spread of the disease.
“If someone is infected with cholera and waits more than 10 hours without going to a health center, they will die,” he warned.
He also called on the public to report symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and severe weakness to the nearest medical facility.
“Cholera is here with us, and we need to maintain good sanitation, including boiling water before drinking,” he said.
Authorities in Buseri Payam of Wau County, about 13 kilometers south of Wau town, reported 82 cases and two deaths.
The outbreak was first detected in February at the Tharkueng military base in Jur River County, where 492 cases and 10 deaths were recorded.
Residents in Wau town urged others to take precautions.
Mary Kon Ngu, a vendor at Nazareth Market, emphasized the importance of hygiene.
“If you use the latrine, wash your hands and teach your children to do the same with soap or ash,” she said. “Keep your hands clean before cooking, and always cover your utensils.”
Bal Paulino Dhar, another resident, said more public awareness is needed.
“The Health Ministry is doing radio campaigns, but some communities don’t have access to radios,” he said. “People should protect themselves by eating hot food, boiling water and keeping their surroundings clean.”
Cholera, caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, leads to severe watery diarrhea, vomiting and muscle cramps. Without prompt treatment, it can be fatal.