South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak in Renk Amid Humanitarian Crisis

South Sudan has declared a cholera outbreak in Renk County, near the Sudan border, where refugees fleeing conflict enter the country. By late October 2024, 50 suspected cases, including six confirmed, were recorded among refugees, returnees, and locals. The government has mobilized a cholera task force and national management systems to coordinate the response. Health facilities have been trained to identify and report cases, with 30 workers now skilled in cholera protocols and sample collection. Overcrowding and inadequate water and sanitation increase transmission risks, prompting collaborations with health, nutrition, and WASH partners to limit spread. Flooding has displaced 46,500 people in Upper Nile State, heightening infection risks. The WHO has set up two cholera treatment units, providing beds and deploying rapid response teams. On 25 October, WHO supplied 12 metric tons of emergency materials, enough for 74,000 treatments, including cholera kits and logistics support.