Cholera kills 238 in Sudan

2006-03-23 22:08

Nairobi - A cholera outbreak has killed at least 238 people and infected some 8 923 others in the past three months in southern Sudan, said the World Health Organisation.

The Geneva-based United Nations organisation said that although the outbreak had been contained in two main southern towns, it had spread to other areas.

Cholera was transmitted by consumption of contaminated water and food and was linked to poor hygiene, overcrowding and inadequate sanitation.

Southern Sudan's infrastructure had been battered by 21 years of civil war. Although a peace treaty ended the fighting more than a year ago, little had improved in the region.

WHO said the measure to control the cholera outbreak, including strengthening surveillance and reporting systems, and water chlorination were continuing.

The outbreak took place in both southern Sudan's main city of Juba and Yei, near the Ugandan border.

The situation in Yei was "stable and improving daily", with the last case reported on Monday. WHO said that in Juba the outbreak had been declared officially over.

The first suspected cases were reported at the end of January in Yei.

Since then, the disease spread quickly.

On February 6, the first suspected case was identified in Juba and a few days later the cholera outbreak was confirmed.

- AP