Current Situation
On 23 June 2015, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of South Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in Juba County. According to WHO, as of the end of the day on 24 June 2015, a total of 237 cholera cases including 19 deaths (case fatality rate of 8 per cent) have been reported from 50 villages in seven payams of Juba County. The cases have been traced back to an initial case reported on 18 May 2015 in Juba PoC. The majority of cases have been reported from the PoC followed by New site, Mangatain IDP site,
Gumbo, Kor William, Gudele 1 and Munuki.
No confirmed cholera cases have been reported from anywhere else in the country, however there are suspected cases reported in Torit and Bor. MoH, UNICEF, WHO and parnters are increasing surveillance and prevention activities across the country, with particular focus on cholera hot spot areas.
Fifteen per cent of the suspected cases are children under 5, including two deaths. Cholera is particularly dangerous for young children as it causes rapid and severe dehydration due to excessive diarrhoea and vomiting.
Twenty-nine new cases were reported in Juba on 23 June. While most were reported from Juba Teaching Hospital, three cases were reported from the Juba PoC Clinic. Without urgent action, UNICEF estimates that up to 5,000 children throughout the country are at risk from cholera.
UNICEF and its implementing partners are undertaking a comprehensive, multisectoral response in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, WHO and other partners. Cholera control interventions including enhanced surveillance and laboratory testing, communication using multimedia channels on cholera prevention, and improving access to safe water, sanitation, and personal hygiene are ongoing with priority given to high-risk populations.