There have been dozens of cases of acute watery diarrhoea, which presents similar symptoms as cholera, and numerous deaths in Damazin in Sudan’s Blue Nile State, a local activist said.

Diarrhoea and other diseases have killed about 10 people including children in the area last week, the activist who preferred anonymity told Radio Tamazuj.

She said the deceased all were displaced people staying at the Al-Shahid Afendi and Aroma camps. The source suspected some cases to be cholera and called upon authorities to control the disease before heath conditions deteriorate further.

There is currently a cholera outbreak in South Sudan. Sudanese health officials have begun taking steps to prevent spread of the deadly disease into their country.

Several displaced people separately confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that there were cases of watery diarrhoea and malnutrition recorded in the two camps, and that some patients have been taken to Damazin Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the White Nile state ministry of Health has stepped up surveillance and screening following reports of acute watery diarrhoea in South Sudan.

Mahdi Adam Al Zein, director general at the health ministry, said in a press statement that the ministry has put in place preventive measures to monitor those who cross from South Sudan.

He pointed out other health organizations were also involved in the surveillance and screenings, saying several isolation centres and quarantines have already been established on the border.

Photo: Cholera treatment centre in South Sudan in 2014 (Medair/Wendy van Amerongen)

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Sudan steps up border screening as watery diarrhoea emerges in S Sudan (24 Jul.)