Sudanese authorities declare cholera outbreak

Sudan – The Sudanese Minister of Health announced on Saturday the outbreak of cholera in the country, as heavy rains fall amid the worsening crises of displaced people fleeing the fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 2023.

Minister Haitham Ibrahim said, “We announce that there is a cholera epidemic in Sudan, as a result of environmental conditions and unfit water in a number of locations.”

He explained that the decision was taken “in the presence of all concerned parties at the federal level, the Ministry of Health in Kassala State, United Nations agencies, and a number of experts” after “isolating the microbe during laboratory testing, and it was proven to be cholera.”

Ibrahim pointed out that the states of Kassala and Gedaref in eastern Sudan are the most affected by the epidemic, without specifying the number of cases that have been detected.

Sudan has been witnessing heavy rains for several weeks, which have displaced thousands of people and caused a number of diseases, with an increase in cases of diarrhea, especially among children.

In Kassala State, which has been particularly affected, authorities have called on the international community to provide “urgent” and “immediate” assistance.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.

The disease causes severe diarrhea and dehydration that can lead to death within hours.

From the beginning of this year until July 28, 307,433 cholera cases and 2,326 deaths were reported as a result of the epidemic in 26 countries, according to the World Health Organization.