1 dead, 13 hospitalized amid Cholera outbreak in Rubkona County

JUBA – At least one person has been confirmed dead and thirteen (13) others hospitalized following an outbreak of cholera in Rubkona County of oil-rich Unity State in South Sudan’s north, according to the state ministry of health.

In a statement extended to Sudans Post, the ministry said one person was killed as a result of the outbreak and 13 others hospitalized.

“The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that the cholera outbreak has been declared in Rubkona County, Unity State,” the ministry said in the statement.

“To date, a total of 31 cases including one death have been reported from Rubkona town and Bentiu IDP camp and health officials are investigating whether there are any others,” the statement added.

The fatality was a seven-year-old child who died on March 25.

All others infected have been treated and released from the hospital, the ministry said, adding that the outbreak followed a steady rise in diarrhea cases in the affected areas.

It marked the first cholera case in the country since December 2017, which marked the end of an outbreak that began in June 2016 and killed 436 people.

Cholera is an acute form of diarrhea that is treatable with antibiotics and hydration but can kill within hours if left untreated.

It is caused by a germ that is typically transmitted by poor sanitation. People become infected when they swallow food or water carrying the bug.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said in early 2021 there were between 1.3 million and four million cases of cholera per year around the world, leading to between 21,000 and 143,000 deaths.

In February 2018, South Sudan declared the end of its longest and largest cholera outbreak.