25 June 2014 - The number of people infected by cholera in Juba has risen to more than 200, according to the latest report from the South Sudanese Ministry of Health and World Health Organization (WHO).

The report, issued on 23 June following the ministry’s official declaration of a cholera outbreak in the national capital earlier this week, also said there were 19 deaths so far.

“As of 23 June, a total of 206 cholera cases, including 19 deaths, have been reported from 47 villages in seven payams of Juba County,” said the report.

The report stated that initial cases had been traced back to 18 May in a UN House protection of civilians’ (PoC) site, which has reported the majority of the cases, followed by New Site, Mangatain IDP (internally displaced persons), Gumbo, Kor William, Gudele 1 and Munuki localities.

UNICEF and the World Health Organization had mounted an outbreak response led by the Ministry of Health, a press statement issued by the UN children’s agency on 23 June stated.

The response includes providing lifesaving health supplies and scaling up preventative measures, including cholera vaccinations and hygiene promotion.

An estimated 30,000 internally displaced persons in the Juba PoC site will receive the Oral Cholera Vaccination in an ongoing campaign as well as hygiene promotion, which includes hand washing and safe handling of food, the statement noted.

“Up to 5,000 children under five are at risk of dying from cholera unless urgent action is taken to contain this threat,” said UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Jonathan Veitch. “It is deplorable that such an easily preventable disease could destroy so many young lives.”

According to the UNICEF release, children under five years of age account for 15 per cent of all suspected cholera cases.

“UNICEF and partners are supporting the establishment of Oral Rehydration points and have trained health care providers,” said the statement. “They have also delivered cholera treatment supplies, including medicines, soap, protective equipment and tents to hospitals throughout the country. In addition, UNICEF is the lead agency in the provision of safe drinking water in cholera-risk areas.”

A similar vaccination campaign targeting 90,000 people is underway in the mission’s PoC site in the Unity State capital Bentiu.

The Director of Health Education and Promotion at the Ministry of Health, Mary Denis Obat, stressed in an interview with Radio Miraya that community education was important to stop the spread of the disease.