Cholera outbreak in Sudan kills 70 in two days as authorities battle rising cases

Khartoum health officials report declining mortality rates, but over 65,000 cases and 1,700 deaths have been recorded in the past 10 months.

At least 70 people have died in the past two days in Sudan’s Khartoum state, where a cholera outbreak has worsened amid more than two years of war between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Sudan’s health ministry said Thursday.

In a statement, the ministry reported 2,119 new cholera cases alongside the deaths, adding that Khartoum — recently “liberated” by government forces — accounts for nearly 90 percent of the nation’s reported cholera infections, particularly in the areas of Karari, Omdurman, and Ombada.

Despite the grim figures, the ministry claimed the situation was “under control,” noting that water sources were secure and the capital’s health system remained operational.

Regional officials said Wednesday that they had observed a decline in mortality and infection rates, along with an increase in patient recovery — a development they described as “a positive sign.”

Yet, health experts warn the broader picture remains dire. Over the past 10 months, Sudan has reported 65,291 cholera cases and 1,721 associated deaths, according to Hanan Balkhy, the World Health Organization’s regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean.

“Decimated infrastructure, unsafe water, and massive displacement are fueling this preventable crisis,” Dr. Balkhy posted on X, adding that WHO is responding with supplies and vaccines. She called for an end to “this conflict-driven suffering.”

UNICEF reported that more than 1,000 cases of cholera have been identified in children under five since January in Khartoum, where over 3 million people have been displaced since war erupted in April 2023.

“The continued attacks on power stations over the past month have disrupted electricity and worsened water shortages, significantly affecting access to safe drinking water,” UNICEF said, warning that many families are turning to unsafe, contaminated sources.

The agency also noted a worrying surge in cases: from an average of 90 daily cases to 815 between May 15 and 25 — a ninefold increase in just 10 days.

The disease

Cholera, an acute diarrheal illness caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, poses a lethal threat in areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Symptoms can escalate rapidly, with sudden watery diarrhea leading to severe dehydration, accompanied by vomiting, muscle cramps, and extreme weakness.

If untreated, cholera can prove fatal within hours. Severe dehydration lowers blood pressure, causes sunken eyes and dry skin, and leads to lethargy. Prompt treatment with oral rehydration salts or intravenous fluids in severe cases can be life-saving.

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