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The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that it received an alert of suspected cholera outbreak in Malakal, Upper Nile State on the 25th February 2023 from the State Ministry of Health.
Upon receipt of the notification, a multidisciplinary national rapid response team was immediately deployed to conduct preliminary epidemiological investigation, verification and support initial response.
On the 22nd February, Medicines' San Frontiers Spain (MSF Spain) in Malakal, Upper Nile State received an alert of increasing cases of acute watery diarrhoea and vomiting in children aged 1 year and below. Two samples were collected and tested positive for cholera on rapid diagnostic testing (RDT). Additional nine samples were collected and transported to the National Public Health Laboratory in Juba on the 2nd March 2023 for culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Two out of the nine samples tested positive for Vibrio cholerae on PCR testing.
Cumulatively, since 22 February 2023, a total of 179 cholera cases including one death have been reported from Malakal, Upper Nile State. Most (106/59%) of the cases are males while 73 accounting for 41% are females.
Overall, case patients between 0-4 years old are mostly affected with 170 (95%) of the 179 cases reported.
Of these, 109 (61%) are from Malakal town, while 70 (39%) are from Malakal Protection of Civilian Sites.
With the positive PCR test result, the Ministry of Health hereby declares a confirmed outbreak of cholera in Malakal, Upper Nile State, South Sudan and immediately puts in place the following response actions;
• Immediately activate the Public Health Emergency Operations Center to Response mode and all response pillars (coordination, surveillance, case management, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)/ Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Risk Communication and Community Engagement, (RCCE), safe and dignified burial, Points of Entry (PoE), and logistics) activated.
• Deploy additional multi-disciplinary rapid response team comprising of epidemiologist, laboratory, case management, infection prevention and control, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) to conduct in-depth investigation in order to determine the magnitude and risk factors associated with the outbreak as well as support in scaling up the response.
• Continue to collect additional samples of good quality for culture and PCR testing and sero/genotyping.
• Update and operationalize the cholera preparedness and response plan to initiate mobilization of resources for the response.
• Initiate planning for conducting oral cholera vaccination campaigns in the affected locations
The Ministry of Health will continue to work with partners to ensure preparedness, readiness and response efforts are fully implemented and the people of South Sudan are protected from cholera. The public is encouraged to observe the following public health measures to prevent cholera and other diarrheal diseases:
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Drink and use water that has been made safe after treating with chlorine or water that has been boiled (complete boiling point).
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Always wash your hands with soap and safe water before cooking, before handling, eating and feeding children, after using the latrine/toilet or cleaning children after they have used the latrine/toilet and after taking care and touching a cholera patient.
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Use latrines to defecate. Do not defecate in or near a source of drinking water (stream, river or water hole).
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Cook food well, keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables. Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly with clean and safe water before eating them.
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Keep a clean environment at home and in public places and dispose of liquid and solid waste safely.
The public is urged not to panic but remain calm and observe all the above mentioned precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations.
The Public is further urged to be vigilant and report all suspected cholera cases to the national outbreak hotline 6666 or the nearest health facility, County Health Department, and/or State Ministry of Health.
Yolafida Awel Deng Juach .
Minister, Ministry of Health,
Republic of South Sudan 3,
Juba.
For more information, contact:
1 Dr. John Rumunu.
Director General Preventive Health Services,
Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan
Emails: ori.moiga@gmail.com; jrumunu@yahoo.com
Cell Phone: +211 924767490/ +211915941253
2 Dr. Joseph Lasu,
Director Emergency Preparedness and Response,
Ministry of Health Republic of South Sudan
Cell phone: +211 921 395 440