South Sudan: 21 thousand confirmed cases and 367 deaths from cholera as the vaccination campaign continues

Cholera cases are increasing in South Sudan, which the government announced in October 2024, with about 21,000 suspected and confirmed cases and about 367 deaths announced as of today/Wednesday/, with more than a quarter of these cases recorded in the week. The last of December.

The current death rate is 1.8%, which exceeds the World Health Organization’s target limit of less than 1. percent.

South Sudan’s Minister of Health, Yolanda Auel Deng, said: “We extend our deep thanks to the health workers on the front lines, who are devoting their efforts to caring for cholera patients and reducing the spread of the disease.” 

She added: “The vaccine saves lives, and I urge the community to get vaccinated and adhere to all precautionary measures to reduce the risk of cholera.”

In the same context, and to confront the increase in Cholera cases: This month, the South African Department of Health, with support from WHO and its partners, launched oral cholera vaccination campaigns in four high-risk districts: Malakal, Juba, Rinke, and Rubkona.

Thanks to support from the Vaccine Alliance " GAVI, about 4 million doses of the vaccine have been approved, and so far about 910,000 doses have been administered in the four provinces, with a coverage rate exceeding 90%. 

For his part, the representative of the World Health Organization in South Sudan, Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, said: “While oral cholera vaccination is an important tool, it is only one of several tools to control the current outbreak.” He added: “The World Health Organization is supporting health authorities in all aspects of the outbreak response to ensure that comprehensive health needs are met and this outbreak is ended.”

The World Health Organization has helped establish a 50-bed cholera treatment center at Juba Teaching Hospital, It supports the deployment of nine rapid response teams from the national level to 11 priority districts to support partners working on the ground in providing critical case management. 

WHO continues to distribute essential medical supplies to combat cholera to Local and national health authorities and their partners. These supplies include investigation and treatment kits, cholera beds, rapid diagnostic tests, and personal protective equipment to strengthen cholera preparedness and response efforts. These supplies are sufficient to treat 4,700 cholera cases.

Cholera cases have been reported in 31 out of 80 districts in seven states and one administrative region, while Rubkona District records 47 percent of the total cases, followed by Juba District with about 10 percent. The influx of refugees and returnees fleeing the conflict in Sudan increases the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as cholera, increasing pressure on an already fragile health system.

The province has recorded Rinke, which is the main entry point for most returnees and refugees from Sudan, has about 550 suspected and confirmed cholera cases and three deaths, representing about 4% of the total cases recorded nationally.

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