Urgent Response Needed for Cholera Outbreak in South Sudan

A cholera outbreak in Renk, Upper Nile state, South Sudan, has escalated, with 737 cases reported in Malakal alone as of December 3, Reliefweb.com reported yesterday. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is actively responding by establishing cholera treatment centers and oral rehydration points across multiple states.

Since the first suspected case on November 5, MSF has treated 646 patients in Malakal, representing over 87% of reported cases. The outbreak, initially declared on October 28, has spread to Bentiu, Aweil, and even Juba, exacerbated by poor living conditions and a significant influx of over 850,000 refugees from Sudan.

MSF emphasizes the urgent need for a comprehensive vaccination campaign and improved health services to curb the outbreak. The organization is also conducting community education and contact tracing to mitigate further spread. As of December 3, South Sudan has recorded 1,526 suspected and confirmed cholera cases, with 70% occurring in Upper Nile state.