South Sudan’s Ministry of Health has declared cholera outbreak in Juba County, Central Equatoria State after weeks of silence after at least 18 people were killed by the disease. Dr. Riek Gai Kok, Minister of Health today belatedly declared a cholera outbreak in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Ministry of Heath, Gai said that they have recorded over 171 suspected cholera cases including 18 deaths in nine facilities and nine communities. A total of 61 stool samples have been collected from suspected cases and submitted to the National Public Health Laboratory for testing.
Radio Tamazuj reported on Sunday that South Sudan’s government was covering up the cholera outbreak.
Gai said the cases of cholera first emerged on 1 June, 2015 at the UN POC site. However, he added that other suspected areas of cholera cases are at the Juba Military Hospital, Gumbo, Gurei, Nyakuron and Munuki in Juba County.
Cholera treatment centers have been established in Juba Teaching Hospital and the International Medical Corps clinic in UN House POC to manage suspected and confirmed cholera cases.
Meanwhile, WHO and other partners are conducting Oral Cholera Vaccination campaigns in vulnerable areas of Bentiu and Juba targeting 73,360 and 33,565 people respectively as a complementary measure to prevent potential large-scale outbreak and prevent deaths.
Related:
S Sudan officials: Lack of public information slowing cholera reponse (22 June)
Ministry of Health covering up cholera outbreak in Juba (21 June)