![South Sudan minister of health Yolanda Awel Deng speaks to journalists during a press conference in Juba on Monday, October 28, 2024. [Photo by Sudans Post]](https://i0.wp.com/www.sudanspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/a34ce7e8-7ae7-42a8-bc80-befc799018f6.jpg?resize=1078%2C586&quality=89&ssl=1)
Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng told a news conference in Juba that 33 suspected cases had been reported in the county as of Oct. 11.
“The Ministry of Health, therefore, declares an outbreak of Cholera in Renk County of Upper Nile in South Sudan, based on confirmation of cholera by culture and confirmed evidence of local transmission in Renk,” Awel said.
She added that most of the cases involved people aged 15 and above, with 33 male and 32 female cases reported. No deaths have been recorded so far.
The ministry has activated an incident management system to strengthen response interventions and improve surveillance, Awel said.
“The Ministry of Health will continue to work with WHO and other partners to ensure response interventions are fully implemented and people of South Sudan are protected,” she said.
Awel urged the public to drink and use treated water to prevent the spread of the disease.
“The public is urged to remain calm and observe all the above measures to prevent further community transmission,” she added.
Dr. Humphrey Karamagi, World Health Organization’s Country Director in South Sudan, warned that the outbreak could undermine health sector progress.
“Our declaration of a cholera outbreak is not a simple issue. It is not just business as usual. We have a particular threat, which could significantly undermine a lot of the progress that the country has made so far in the health sector,” Karamagi said.
He said the WHO is working with partners to mobilize resources to respond to the outbreak.
