In a statement, the ministry said the country has recorded over 57,276 cholera cases and 1,147 deaths across 48 counties since the outbreak began in October 2024. The spread is being fueled by persistent gaps in sanitation and inadequate hygiene facilities, particularly in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
“Despite major interventions, open defecation remains a critical barrier to cholera control,” the ministry said. “High-risk settings like Renk and Nasir remain vulnerable due to poor sanitation.”
Unity and Jonglei Hit Hardest
Unity State continues to bear the heaviest burden, accounting for 35% of all reported cases (19,824), while Jonglei State follows with 16% (9,035) of total infections.
In the past week alone, 900 new cases and 16 cholera-related deaths were reported in 16 counties, highlighting the rapid resurgence of the disease in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation services.
Vaccination Drive Underway
The ministry announced that 7.4 million doses of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) have been secured and distributed across the country, targeting 32 counties in 9 states and one administrative area.
“So far, 5.6 million people have been vaccinated, achieving 81% coverage of the 6.9 million individuals targeted,” the statement said.
While the vaccination campaign has made significant progress, health officials caution that vaccines alone are not enough to contain the outbreak without addressing root causes like sanitation, hygiene, and water access.
Cholera and the Risk Factors
Cholera is a highly infectious disease caused by Vibrio cholerae, primarily spread through contaminated food and water. It leads to severe diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, and can be fatal if left untreated. The disease thrives in overcrowded, unsanitary environments—conditions that exist in many of South Sudan’s displacement camps and rural communities.
“We must act fast to improve water and sanitation infrastructure or risk losing more lives,” a senior health official warned. “The current situation is not just a public health emergency—it’s a humanitarian crisis.”
A Call for Urgent Action
Health authorities are now calling on local leaders, humanitarian partners, and the international community to support the government in scaling up sanitation campaigns, enforcing anti-open defecation laws, and rehabilitating water points in the most affected counties.
If left unchecked, the cholera crisis threatens to become one of the worst public health disasters in South Sudan’s recent history, especially with the onset of the rainy season expected to further complicate containment efforts.
