Sudan reports 28 deaths from cholera in 1 month: WHO

Sudan has reported 28 deaths from cholera in the past month, following a new outbreak caused by floods and poor sanitation in camps for displaced people, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The outbreak, which began on August 12, has resulted in 658 cases across five states, with Kassala having the highest numbers.

At a weekly press briefing in Geneva, WHO representative in Sudan, Shible Sahbani, and Kristine Hambrouck, representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), spoke about the situation. They explained that the outbreak was triggered by flooding and inadequate hygiene and sanitation conditions in camps for displaced individuals.

“In one month since the first suspected cases were reported, we have recorded 658 cases and 28 deaths from five states, with a case-fatality rate of 4.3%,” Sahbani said. Kassala reported the highest number of cases with 473, followed by Gedaref with 110, and Al Jazirah with 51. Fewer cases were reported in Khartoum and River Nile.

These cases are unrelated to a previous cholera outbreak declared in September 2023, which ended in May 2024. WHO has been working with local health ministries to provide cholera kits and medical supplies in high-risk areas, including Kassala and Al Jazirah, where access is challenging due to security issues.

A recent oral cholera vaccination campaign in Kassala State covered 97% of the eligible population, deploying 51,000 doses. WHO is also preparing for a second campaign with 455,081 doses approved for high-risk areas in Kassala. The organization is also setting up 10 stabilization centers and 48 oral rehydration points to improve treatment.

Financial support remains critical, as health services are stretched thin due to diseases, malnutrition, and conflict. The Humanitarian Response Plan is only 37.4% funded, with health response at 42.7%. WHO has urged donors to continue supporting Sudan during this crisis.

Hambrouck also discussed the impact of the outbreak on displaced people. The cholera outbreak, the second since the conflict started 16 months ago, is spreading rapidly in refugee-hosting areas, particularly in Kassala, Gedaref, and Jazirah.

“To date, 119 cholera cases have been confirmed in three refugee camps in Kassala State,” Hambrouck said. Although no refugee cases have been reported in Gedaref, the outbreak has worsened due to recent rains, flooding, overcrowded camps, and weak health infrastructure.