Over 50,000 Cholera Deaths and Cases in Six Months
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The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 50,000 people have either died from or been infected with cholera in the past six months.
In a statement released on Sunday, the WHO confirmed that 1,359 people have died from cholera and more than 51,300 have been infected since the outbreak was declared in August last year, up until January 18.
The organization explained that the disease has spread across 84 localities in 11 states due to rains, floods, overcrowding, and lack of access to clean water in displacement camps and within communities. Initial suspected cases were reported in July, leading to the declaration of an outbreak in August 2024.
Dr. Shible Sahbani, WHO Representative in Sudan, described the situation as "a perfect storm for diseases like cholera, which thrive on poverty and displacement—consequences of conflict, displacement, and poverty. Ultimately, peace is the only solution."
The statement also highlighted the joint efforts of the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, and UNICEF to conduct oral cholera vaccination campaigns across eight states, reaching 7.4 million people, including areas along the Sudan-South Sudan border, in collaboration with health authorities in South Sudan.
The WHO has established 12 cholera treatment centers to manage severe cases in six states and 44 oral rehydration points across the country, out of a total of 93 active points nationwide.
The organization is also monitoring water quality and distributing water treatment tablets to healthcare facilities and cholera treatment units. It provides direct operational support, incentives, supplies, and technical assistance to the 12 cholera treatment centers it has set up in affected states. Additionally, the WHO supplies most of the 70 cholera treatment centers managed by the Ministry of Health, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and other health partners.
“Our supplies are essential for a rapid response to prevent severe cases and deaths,” said Dr. Shible Sahbani.
The cholera outbreak comes at a time when Sudans healthcare system has been severely weakened by the ongoing war. This has resulted in extreme restrictions on access to those in need, significant security risks that limit assistance efforts, and challenges for healthcare workers and patients to safely reach medical facilities. Many healthcare workers have gone unpaid for months, there is a severe shortage of medical supplies, and a lack of funds to perform operations. Additionally, large numbers of people continue to be displaced from various states, leading to overcrowding, further restrictions on access to food, clean water, hygiene, and sanitation, creating an environment conducive to contamination and the spread of cholera.
