Cholera Outbreak Shuts Down Schools and Markets in Sudan

By Adebowale Bello. Freelance Health Writer.

Map of Sudan showing location of Ed Debba. Click on image to enlarge.

Wednesday, September 27, 2024. A cholera outbreak sweeping Sudan’s Northern region has forced authorities in Ed Debba (also known as El Debba, Al Dabbah, etc.) to close schools and markets in an urgent attempt to prevent the disease from escalating. So far, the outbreak has claimed 18 lives and infected over 300 people.

El Debba is a town of 52,000 people on the banks of the Nile river in Southern Kordofan region of Sudan, It is approximately 321 miles (517 km) north of Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. El Debbah is on the migratory route between Port Sudan in the East and Dafur in the West of Sudan.

Local health officials announced that all schools would remain closed until Saturday while food and beverage outlets are closed indefinitely. Markets will operate on restricted hours, opening from 10 a.m. to early morning, with only essential services like pharmacies and bakeries permitted to stay open.

The Ministry of Health confirmed a total of 307 cases in the area. Federal Health Minister, Dr. Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim, attributed the surge in infections to increased movement between states and an influx of displaced persons. Meanwhile, in North Kordofan, health officials reported outbreaks of both cholera and dengue fever. Cases have been confirmed in Bara, Um Rawaba and Sheikan with additional suspected cases under investigation.

Authorities are mobilizing resources to contain the spread, establishing isolation wards and issuing regular updates to monitor the situation. Dr. Iman Malik, head of North Kordofan’s Ministry of Health and Social Development, stated that precautionary measures are being implemented to curb the outbreak.

Across 10 states, the Federal Ministry of Health has recorded 12,896 cholera infections and 388 deaths. On Saturday alone, five states reported 401 new cases, including six fatalities. The states of Kassala and El Gedaref are the worst affected, although Kassala has achieved a 99% vaccination rate for cholera. To combat the health crisis, isolation centers have been set up in eight states, and a joint task force has been formed between federal health authorities and Sennar State.

Source: Dabanga

Related:

Cholera in the African setting: What is it? Who gets it?

Cholera Outbreak in Sudan: 22 Dead, Hundreds Infected

Published: September 27, 2024

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