Sudan Health Ministry confirms four cases of cholera

The Ministry of Health confirmed four cases of cholera in Blue Nile state. It said in a statement issued yesterday that the National Laboratory for Public Health notified the ministry of the presence of cholera bacteria in four of the six samples it received from infected patients in Blue Nile state. Cases of typhoid have been found as well.

So far, the Health Ministry has referred to cases that many believe to be cholera as ‘acute watery diarrhoea’. The statement of the Health Ministry still claimed that 37 people have been infected with acute watery diarrhoea in various localities of Blue Nile state during the past two weeks, three of which died.

Last week doctors warned the Health Ministry of a cholera epidemic.

Minister of Culture and Information and spokesman for the government Feisal Mohamed Saleh said that the Health Minister had spoken with full transparency about confirmed cases of cholera in Blue Nile State and that urgent measures have been taken to address this issue, including communication with the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The Health Ministry said in a statement that the WHO official notification was part of the government's commitment to transparency, and its obligations under the 2005 International Health Regulations, in which the WHO is asked to import cholera vaccines to protect the citizens.

Health Minister Akram El Tom is visiting Blue Nile state today to assess the situation on the ground and take decisions to address the problem immediately. The Ministry of Health will coordinate with other sectors and partners to improve housing, drinking water and waste disposal in all areas affected by floods, rains and torrents.

Malaria, typhoid

Babikir El Magboul, Director of Emergency Management and Epidemic Control reported that the rate of malaria increased in all states of Sudan, compared with the previous 10 years. He acknowledged that there is a shortage of insecticides and mosquito nets.

The Ministry of Health of Blue Nile state reported that cases of bloody diarrhoea, malaria, and typhoid emerged among those affected by rains and floods  in the state.

It also reported that the rains and floods swept away entire villages. More than 123 villages in the state are completely cut off.

#CholeraInSudan, #ألكوليرا_السودان

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