Cholera Outbreak in Sudan: Over 47,000 Cases Reported

Sudan is experiencing a severe cholera outbreak, with over 47,365 cases reported across 81 localities in 11 of the country’s 18 states by December 16, 2024, Reliefweb.com reported.

The outbreak, which has resulted in approximately 1,235 deaths, indicates a case fatality rate of 2.6%, surpassing the World Health Organization’s acceptable threshold of under 1%.

The cholera situation has worsened since the onset of conflict in April 2023, with significant past epidemics in 2017 and 2019-2020 leading to hundreds of deaths. The recent outbreak was declared in Gedaref, Kassala, and River Nile states in August 2024, exacerbated by overcrowded displacement sites lacking adequate water and sanitation facilities.

Data reporting challenges are prevalent, with no cholera cases reported from Blue Nile and Darfur states due to network issues. Notably, Aj Jazirah has recorded the highest number of cases at 11,179, followed by Al Qadarif and Kassala. The outbreak predominantly affects individuals aged infants to 50, with the highest mortality rates in those aged 70 and above at 14.56%. Access to timely healthcare remains critical to mitigating the crisis.