Cholera Outbreak in Sudan Claims 172 Lives Amid Ongoing Conflict

A cholera outbreak in Sudan has led to 172 deaths and over 2,500 illnesses reported within a week, primarily affecting Khartoum and Omdurman. The civil war’s devastation has worsened conditions, severely limiting access to clean water and healthcare. Previous cholera outbreaks amidst current turmoil further threaten the population’s health, alongside other diseases like dengue and meningitis.

CAIRO — A rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in Sudan has already claimed the lives of 172 people, with over 2,500 new cases reported within just a week. The outbreak is primarily affecting Khartoum and the neighboring city of Omdurman, as many Sudanese return home amid ongoing conflict. Unfortunately, the health and sanitation infrastructure has largely collapsed, forcing residents to rely on contaminated water, which poses a significant risk for cholera transmission.

The surge in cholera cases is alarming; UNICEF reported that diagnoses surged from 90 per day to 815 between May 15 and 25. Since the start of the year, more than 7,700 individuals have been confirmed with cholera, including over 1,000 children under four years of age. Most cases have been in the capital and Omdurman, while five surrounding provinces have also detected cases, as per the Health Ministry.

Doctors Without Borders is presently overwhelmed at its treatment centers in Omdurman, with coordinator Joyce Bakker highlighting the dire situation. “The scenes are disturbing. Many patients are arriving too late to be saved… We do not know the true scale of the outbreak, and our teams can only see a fraction of the full picture,” she said.

The outbreak is largely driven by the devastation wrought by Sudan’s civil war, which has seen Khartoum and Omdurman transformed into battlegrounds. Since the military recaptured Khartoum from the paramilitary forces in March, approximately 34,000 refugees returned. However, many find their homes wrecked and clean water virtually unobtainable. Attacks on local power stations have exacerbated water shortages, while sanitation systems remain in disrepair.

Dr. Rania Elsayegh from Sudan’s Doctors for Human Rights noted, “People have been drinking polluted water and transferring water into unhygienic containers,” significantly increasing infection risk. Furthermore, fear looms that the outbreak may quickly spread in crowded displacement centers, complicating efforts to isolate those infected. Dr. Sayed Mohamed Abdullah, from Sudan’s Doctors Union, reported that more than 80% of hospitals are currently out of service — those still operational face severe shortages of water and medication.

Cholera is known as a “disease of poverty” by the World Health Organization due to its prevalence in areas lacking sanitation and clean water. It is caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. Most cases exhibit mild symptoms, but severe infections can lead to death within hours if untreated. The WHO’s oral cholera vaccine stockpile has unfortunately fallen below the minimum threshold, making it harder to combat outbreaks like this one.

The ongoing civil war in Sudan, which erupted in April 2023 amid tensions between the military and paramilitary forces, has severely worsened the humanitarian situation. Official reports indicate that at least 24,000 have been killed, while over 14 million have been displaced, many fleeing into neighboring countries. Reports from the U.N. also indicate that famine instigated by the conflict affects at least five regions, particularly in the battered Darfur area.

Previous cholera outbreaks have plagued Sudan as well. In 2017, a similar crisis resulted in at least 700 fatalities and around 22,000 cases within a short period. The current circumstances have led to repeated outbreaks due to the ongoing violence. Health authorities have confirmed that cholera afflicted over 20,000 people across 11 provinces in late 2022, with 626 causalities; another outbreak earlier this year sickened over 2,600 and resulted in 90 deaths, mainly in the White Nile province.

Besides cholera, other diseases are also affecting the population. Recently, a dengue fever outbreak has impacted about 12,900 individuals, resulting in at least 20 deaths reported by the Health Ministry. Additionally, there have been fatalities linked to meningitis, a serious and contagious disease.

Sudan continues to face overwhelming health challenges amidst a deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with cholera being just one of many health threats but perhaps the most urgent due to its high transmission risk in the current conditions.

The cholera outbreak in Sudan has become a pressing humanitarian crisis, killing 172 individuals and sickening over 2,500 within a week. The healthcare system is overwhelmed, with many areas lacking basic sanitation and clean water. The ongoing civil war and resulting displacements have exacerbated the situation. While cholera is not new to Sudan, the severe conditions make it particularly deadly. Meanwhile, other diseases like dengue and meningitis are also spreading, compounding the health emergency.

Original Source: www.newsday.com