There were 88 new cases of cholera reported in South Sudan last week, compared to only 23 the week before, according to figures from the World Health Organization published by UNICEF.
The fatality rate for last week was 2.3%, nearly double the previous week’s rate of 1.2%, said the child welfare agency in a cholera bulletin.
The new cases include 11 among soldiers at the Gondokoro military barracks, which UNICEF said raised fears of wider transmission due to military movements. The group said the soldiers will be vaccinated and taught better hygiene practices. UNICEF did not yet respond to an inquiry about who was carrying out and paying for the vaccination of the soldiers.
Meanwhile, a woman tested positive for cholera in Teneth Village near Pibor town in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area. Samples from that test have been sent to Juba for final confirmation. So far cases have been confined to Central Equatoria state and Jonglei state capital Bor.
“Cases of cholera had been in decline in Juba for almost a month starting on 20 July. However, this downwards trend was interrupted last week as cases began to increase once again,” UNICEF said. “The new increase in cases demonstrates that vigilance in prevention efforts remains vital, both in Juba and in other hot spot areas in the country.”
There have been a total of 1,607 cholera cases including 45 deaths in South Sudan since the outbreak began in June, with a case fatality rate of 2.8%. During a cholera outbreak last year there were 6,421 cases including 167 deaths in South Sudan, representing a case fatality rate of 2.6%.
Update, 21:49 25/8/2015: Spokesperson Claire McKeever tells Radio Tamazuj: “UNICEF is not vaccinating the soldiers.”)
Photo: Cholera treatment centre in South Sudan in 2014 (Medair/Wendy van Amerongen)