Amid a worsening cholera outbreak in White Nile state, health authorities have reported one more death and six new cases of the disease. This brings the cumulative number of deaths to 16 and cases to 163 in the state. In response, the Ministry of Health in El Gedaref has launched an urgent oral cholera vaccination campaign to mitigate the spread of the disease.
According to Abdelnasser Hassan, the Director of El Gedaref Ministry of Health, the vaccination campaign will target six localities that have recorded cholera cases: Eastern and western Galabat, central and municipal El Gedaref, El Fashaga, and El Quraisha. The aim is to vaccinate 1.5 million people in these areas. The Ministry has emphasized the importance of targeting individuals to reduce infection and death rates, while continuing other interventions to contain the disease.
To facilitate the campaign, 7,335 technical staff have been deployed across 407 fixed sites, 1,758 temporary sites, and 210 mobile sites. The Ministry of Health has commended the involvement of international organizations in supporting these efforts.
In related news, last week, 2.2 million cholera vaccines and 7.5 million measles-rubella vaccines were transported to Port Sudan for distribution.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has highlighted that 3.1 million people in Sudan are at risk of cholera across eight states between July and December 2023. In a recent report, OCHA confirmed that Sudan declared a cholera outbreak in El Gedaref on September 26, with over 2,525 suspected cases and 78 associated deaths reported in 27 localities across six states.
Mohamed Daoud, the director of the Environmental Health Department of the Health Ministry, attributes the rapid spread of the disease to the lack of resources available to address and combat cholera, as well as its prevalence in neighboring states and the overall weak state of healthcare in the region.
FAQ:
Q: What is cholera?
A: Cholera is a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration.
Q: How is cholera transmitted?
A: Cholera is typically transmitted through contaminated food and water.
Q: What are the symptoms of cholera?
A: Common symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Q: Is cholera treatable?
A: Cholera can be treated with oral rehydration solutions and antibiotics.
Q: How can cholera outbreaks be prevented?
A: Preventive measures include access to clean water, proper sanitation practices, and vaccination campaigns.
Q: Are cholera vaccines effective?
A: Yes, cholera vaccines are effective in preventing and reducing the severity of the disease.
Sources:
– [Ministry of Health Sudan](www.moh.gov.sd/)
– [United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs](www.unocha.org)