At least seven people have succumbed to cholera
infections, and over 2,000 cases have been recorded in Northern Bahr el Ghazal
State, according to health officials.
This comes after the state Ministry of Health declared
the outbreak in late 2024.
The minister says lack of cholera vaccines has
contributed to the surge in the cases. The deaths were recorded between December 2024 and January 2025.
Hon. Jaffery Riiny Riiny Lual stated that the ministry is
engaging with the national ministry to avail the vaccines to start the
vaccination against the disease.
“We are working together with the national Ministry of
Health to avail vaccines, which will help reduce the rate of the disease in the
state,” Riiny told Akol Yam FM on Tuesday.
However, the deputy director of The Nyamlel Hospital said
delaying patients at home is another contributing factor.
Lual Khamis Lual said, “We call upon the public not to
keep those showing symptoms of diarrhea at home. That means such people should
be rushed to nearby health facilities for rescue.”
The bacterium Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, a highly
infectious disease that primarily spreads through contaminated water or food
and can cause severe dehydration and death if left untreated.
Outbreaks are more common in regions with poor sanitation
and limited access to clean drinking water, particularly after natural
disasters, conflicts, or political instability.
Symptoms of cholera include severe diarrhea, vomiting,
and rapid dehydration, often progressing within hours.
Cholera outbreaks have been reported in other states, including Central Equatoria, Warrap, Upper Nile, and Unity.