Sudan cholera toll 68, easing
2006-02-21 21:04
Cairo - The death toll from a suspected cholera outbreak in southern Sudan has risen to 68, but the fatality rate of the epidemic is on the decline, said the United Nations's health agency on Tuesday.
The World Health Organisation said: "As of February 19 2006, a total number of 2 933 cases and 68 deaths (case fatality rate 2.27%) of acute watery diarrhoea were reported in southern Sudan."
The outbreak had hit two major southern Sudanese towns, the administrative capital, Juba, and Yei, near the border with Uganda. Cholera was confirmed in a number of deadly diarrhoea cases.
The first case of acute watery diarrhoea was reported in Juba on February 6.
Officials warn of catastrophe
The Sudanese authorities and the WHO had formed a joint force to combat the spread of the outbreak.
Health officials had warned of catastrophe if cholera spread through Juba, a city of about 250 000 people who relied almost entirely on untreated water from the heavily-polluted Nile.
Southern Sudan, whose infrastructure was largely destroyed by a 21-year civil war, has had deadly outbreaks of meningitis and yellow fever in recent months.
Cholera i a highly contagious and potentially fatal disease that thrives in conditions of poor hygiene and inadequate water supplies.
It generally is caused by using dirty water for drinking and cooking. It leads to severe diarrhoea, dehydration and, sometimes, death.