The national health ministry on Friday reported a renewed surge in cholera cases in Jonglei State’s Duk County, raising concerns as infections continue to spread during the dry season when outbreaks are typically less common.
Health officials say the latest rise in cases was detected last week among internally displaced people living in Duk County, triggering an emergency response by the government and its humanitarian partners.
Joseph Lasu, Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response at the Ministry of Health, told reporters in Juba that unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation are the main drivers of the outbreak.
“People are drinking water directly from rivers, and open defecation remains widespread,” he explained, adding that these conditions have allowed cholera to persist despite the dry season.
According to the ministry, the resurgence began in December on Koyong Island, where communities lack access to clean water and sanitation facilities. The situation worsened as displaced populations moved into Duk County, increasing pressure on already fragile water and health services.
South Sudan has been grappling with cholera since 2024, with officials describing the current outbreak as the largest ever recorded in the country. Nearly 100,000 cases and about 1,600 deaths have been reported nationwide since the outbreak began, the ministry said.
In Duk County alone, Lasu said 25 patients are currently receiving treatment, while 28 deaths have been recorded since the outbreak started in the area. Six of the deaths occurred in the past month.
The government has granted security clearance to allow humanitarian organizations access to Duk County and the surrounding areas, enabling health teams to deliver supplies and respond to new cases.
Medical supplies and water, sanitation, and hygiene materials have already been distributed, while rapid response teams are supporting treatment and disease surveillance. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has also conducted an assessment in Duk County, although the findings have not yet been officially shared with the health ministry.
Health authorities say preparations are underway for a mass oral cholera vaccination campaign targeting Duk County and neighboring areas in an effort to reduce transmission and protect vulnerable communities.
For her part, Dr Harriet Akelo Pasquale, Director General for International Health and Coordination at the Ministry of Health, said the government hopes to contain the outbreak within the coming months if response efforts are sustained.
However, she acknowledged that ongoing displacement, poor water and sanitation infrastructure, and insecurity continue to complicate the response.
Cholera remains a recurring public health threat in South Sudan, particularly in conflict-affected and displacement-hit areas where access to clean water and basic services is limited.