News
South Sudan Cholera Outbreak
OCHA Situation Report & Press Release
(Source: World Health Organization (WHO))
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South Sudan Cholera Outbreak Situation Report: No. 001 (7 May 2022)
Sources: Govt. South Sudan WHO
Highlight:
• The South Sudan Ministry of Health reported a confirmed case of cholera from Bentiu IDP Camp on 14 April 2022.
• This is the first cholera case to be reported in South Sudan since the devastating cholera outbreak in 2017 affecting more than 28,000 people with 644 deaths.
• The case patient is a 29-months old patient who tested positive by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) on 21st of March 2022 from the Bentiu IDP Camp, Rubkona county
Sources: Govt. South Sudan WHO
Highlight:
• The South Sudan Ministry of Health reported a confirmed case of cholera from Bentiu IDP Camp on 14 April 2022.
• This is the first cholera case to be reported in South Sudan since the devastating cholera outbreak in 2017 affecting more than 28,000 people with 644 deaths.
• The case patient is a 29-months old patient who tested positive by Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) on 21st of March 2022 from the Bentiu IDP Camp, Rubkona county
• On 25th March 2022, Vibrio cholerae was isolated from the sample on culture at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Juba and was confirmed in the Microbiology Reference Laboratory in Kampala, Uganda.
• Following the national Rapid Response Team (RRT) deployment to Bentiu from 22-29 April 2022, seven additional cholera cases were confirmed by culture during the week ending 30 April 2022.
• Cumulatively, 31 suspected cases have been reported, of which 12 were cholera RDT positive and eight (8) tested culture positive at the National Reference Laboratory in Juba. One of the RDT positive cases died giving 3.2% case fatality ratio (CFR).
• Following the national Rapid Response Team (RRT) deployment to Bentiu from 22-29 April 2022, seven additional cholera cases were confirmed by culture during the week ending 30 April 2022.
• Cumulatively, 31 suspected cases have been reported, of which 12 were cholera RDT positive and eight (8) tested culture positive at the National Reference Laboratory in Juba. One of the RDT positive cases died giving 3.2% case fatality ratio (CFR).
• Majority (52%) of the cases are females, while their males counterparts accounts for 48%. The age group between 0-4 years accounted for 45.2%, followed by age group ?20 years with 22.6%, age group 10-14 years accounted for 16.1%, age group 5-9 years accounts for 9.7%, and age group between 15-19 years accounts for the least with 6.5% of the total 31 cases reported.
• In Bentiu and Rubkona IDP camps, flood surface water is used to bathing and playing. Rubkona county experienced unprecedented floods in 2021 with flood waters persisting up to the end of the current dry season.
• All the cases admitted have been treated and discharged, no case is currently in admission in Bentiu IDP camp treatment center.
• In Bentiu and Rubkona IDP camps, flood surface water is used to bathing and playing. Rubkona county experienced unprecedented floods in 2021 with flood waters persisting up to the end of the current dry season.
• All the cases admitted have been treated and discharged, no case is currently in admission in Bentiu IDP camp treatment center.
Official Press Release Statement:
Ministry of Health statement on declaration of cholera outbreak in Rubkona county.
News and Press Release | Source: Govt. South Sudan
The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that the Cholera outbreak has been declared in Rubkona county, Unity State. The declaration follows the confirmation of cholera in eight cases following tests by the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba. To date, a total of 31 cases including one death have been reported from Rubkona town and Bentiu IDP camp.
The confirmed cases presented with watery diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration and were admitted and managed at MSF Bentiu PoC Hospital. All cases have been discharged.
Following the confirmation of the initial case on 14 April 2022, the Ministry of Health with support from its partners deployed a rapid response team from 22 to 29 April 2022 to investigate the causes and support the state level response. Adequate supplies have been deployed to support the investigation and treatment of cases in Rubkona county.
Moreover, the Government with support from its partners conducted two rounds of oral cholera vaccination in Rubkona county in January and March 2022 respectively.
The Ministry of Health and partners are conducting further case search in the households and their neighborhood to identify additional cholera cases following a steady rise in acute watery diarrhea cases reported in both the Bentiu and Rubkona IDP camps and the host community.
Public is being urged not to panic but remain calm and observe all the precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations with inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor personal hygiene, and inadequate access to improved sanitation facilities.
The Ministry of Health activated a national and a state cholera taskforce on 14 April 2022 to coordinate all response interventions, heighten surveillance in the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and at community levels.
The Ministry of Health and partners are conducting further case search in the households and their neighborhood to identify additional cholera cases following a steady rise in acute watery diarrhea cases reported in both the Bentiu and Rubkona IDP camps and the host community.
Public is being urged not to panic but remain calm and observe all the precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations with inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor personal hygiene, and inadequate access to improved sanitation facilities.
The Ministry of Health activated a national and a state cholera taskforce on 14 April 2022 to coordinate all response interventions, heighten surveillance in the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and at community levels.
The cholera risk is typically high during the rainy season that starts from May to the end of October.
For the last couple of years, the country has experienced devastating floods affecting over one million people mainly women and children and displacing them from their homes, livelihoods, and social services.
Given the congestion of displaced populations in high ground areas and contamination of the safe water sources in Unity State, the humanitarian response has been scaled up to avert catastrophic consequences of cholera, floods, severe food insecurity, COVID-19 and other shocks.
The Ministry of Health will continue to work with partners to ensure preparedness and response efforts are fully implemented and the people of South Sudan are protected from cholera and would like to use this opportunity to encourage the public to continue observing the following measures to prevent cholera and other diarrhea diseases:
1. Drink and use water that has been made safe after treating with chlorine or if boiling, bring your water to a complete boil for at least 1 minute.
2. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the latrine, before handling and eating food.
For the last couple of years, the country has experienced devastating floods affecting over one million people mainly women and children and displacing them from their homes, livelihoods, and social services.
Given the congestion of displaced populations in high ground areas and contamination of the safe water sources in Unity State, the humanitarian response has been scaled up to avert catastrophic consequences of cholera, floods, severe food insecurity, COVID-19 and other shocks.
The Ministry of Health will continue to work with partners to ensure preparedness and response efforts are fully implemented and the people of South Sudan are protected from cholera and would like to use this opportunity to encourage the public to continue observing the following measures to prevent cholera and other diarrhea diseases:
1. Drink and use water that has been made safe after treating with chlorine or if boiling, bring your water to a complete boil for at least 1 minute.
2. Always wash your hands with soap and water after using the latrine, before handling and eating food.
3. Use latrines or bury your feces and do not defecate in any water body.
4. Cook food well, keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables. Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating them.
5. Keep a clean environment at home and in public places and dispose of liquid and solid waste safely.
The Public is further urged to be vigilant and report all suspected cholera cases to the national outbreak hotline 6666 or the nearest health facility, County Health Department, and/or State Ministry of Health.
For more information, contact:
Dr. John Pasquale Rumunu Karlino, Director General, Directorate of Preventive Health Services,
Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan.
Emails: ori.moiga@gmail.com; jrumunu@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: +211 924767490/ +211915941253
Source: ReliefWeb | OCHA, global media and strategic partners of ARAC International via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
4. Cook food well, keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables. Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean water before eating them.
5. Keep a clean environment at home and in public places and dispose of liquid and solid waste safely.
The Public is further urged to be vigilant and report all suspected cholera cases to the national outbreak hotline 6666 or the nearest health facility, County Health Department, and/or State Ministry of Health.
For more information, contact:
Dr. John Pasquale Rumunu Karlino, Director General, Directorate of Preventive Health Services,
Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan.
Emails: ori.moiga@gmail.com; jrumunu@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: +211 924767490/ +211915941253
Source: ReliefWeb | OCHA, global media and strategic partners of ARAC International via the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)
more information: https://www.arac-international.org/
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