A cholera outbreak is spreading in South Sudan

A report released by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), otherwise known as Doctors Without Borders, revealed that a total of 737 cholera cases had been recorded in the South Sudanese capital of Malakal, situated within the country’s Upper Nile state. A statement issused by Zakaria Mwatia, MSF’s head of mission in the country, outlined the critical situation in Malakal and expressed concerns that the outbreak is spreading to neighbouring areas such as Tonga and Kodok. Furthermore, the group confirmed that the ongoing influx of refugees and returnees into South Sudan is placing additional pressure on an overstretched health system. The group estimates that over 850,000 people have crossed from Sudan into South Sudan over the past 18 months alone, highlighting the significant challenges facing the healthcare sector. To address the outbreak, MSF has established a 100-bed cholera treatment center in close proximity to Malakal Town Hospital. However, challenges remain in terms of access to clean water and sanitation. Moreover, the UN has acquired over 280,000 doses of oral cholera vaccine to combat high transmission rates in several regions. A 3 December report by MSF indicated that South Sudan had 1,526 confirmed cases of cholera up to that date.