Cholera has broken out in Sudan, even as fighting continued to rage in the Northeast African country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned on Friday.
In the Gedaref region, which had already been hit by dengue fever, cholera has claimed the lives of 16 people, while almost 300 individuals are suspected of having contracted the diarrhoeal infection, according to WHO.
Four individuals are definitely infected with cholera, while 264 others are potentially infected.
The WHO is investigating whether the infection has also reached the capital, Khartoum, and the south of the country. More and more cases of acute diarrhoea are being reported there.
The WHO has supplied six of the country’s states with antibiotics and hydration resources. In addition, the UN organisation is supporting the Ministry of Public Health in its preventive efforts. For example, it is providing clean toilets and drinking water. It is also sending more teams to the affected regions.
“A cholera epidemic can have a terrible impact on a health system that is already under strain,” stresses Dr Nima Abid, who represents the institution in Sudan.
As a result of the conflict that broke out in April between the forces of two rival generals, Sudan is facing a number of health problems that have been exacerbated by heavy rains and flooding this summer. Around 70% of hospitals in the combat zones are currently out of action.
Cholera is spreading worldwide. Last year, governments notified the WHO of 470,000 infections, double the number reported in 2021. However, the numbers could be higher since not all infections are reported.
