The cumulative number of suspected and confirmed cholera cases in Juba, South Sudan, has risen to at least 266, with six deaths recorded at health facilities.

Cholera is a disease is characterized by sudden onset of profuse, watery diarrhoea without fever or abdominal cramps. Vomiting, which can be severe, and painful leg cramps are also common symptoms.

Dr. Piny Nyimol Mawien, Director General of Preventive Medicine at the Ministry of Health, speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday evening, said as of 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday there were 266 cases and six deaths, with 195 patients discharged already after having been treated.

He noted there were new patients admitted to health facilities yesterday, suggesting therefore that the total number of cases in Jub is more than 266, but did not yet have the data on how many, in order to provide a cumulative tally to date.  

In terms of the reported outbreak in Twic East of Jonglei State, he said there were 23 reported cases so far and six deaths, though a verification team has yet to reach the area to confirm that the outbreak there is cholera.

SPLA Division Commander Owiny Kibul has reportedly requested support in response to the increasing number of cases at the barracks in Panyagor, Jonglei.

Another team has headed to Kaka Tijaria in Manyo County of Upper Nile State. The director-general said he had received a report of seven deaths there but noted that the verification team has not yet reached the area.

MSF-Spain earlier dispatched a team to Kaka to make a preliminary assessment. The team found that the Kaka military health facility lacked IV fluids, chlorine for disinfection, and antibiotics, noting also that soldiers have been drinking water straight from the Nile.

The figures provided by Dr. Piny Nyimol on the number of cases in Juba correspond to those recorded on a factsheet circulated by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday. The factsheet revealed that on Monday alone 78 new case were admitted at the cholera treatment centre in Juba.

Nearly half of the cases (130) are coming from Northern Bari Payam of Juba, which Munuki recording 55 cases and Rejaf 25.

“Trends show a common outbreak with increasing transmission in the affected communities.”

“Assessment of risk factors is underway but preliminary results indicate that most people are drinking unboiled water from the River Nile,” says the ministry’s report.

There are also seven deaths reported to have occurred in communities within Juba and not in health facilities. According to the Ministry of Health, no health responders have yet reached out to supervise burials at the community level.

The ministry identified this as a ‘gap’ in the response, along with failure to start disinfection of dead patients’ households. 

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56 suspected cases of cholera in Juba (17 May)

Health Ministry declares cholera outbreak in South Sudan capital (16 May)