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IOM gears up response to cholera outbreak in Juba

Author : | Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The International Organization for Migration says it is setting up oral rehydration stations in Juba as part of its response to suspected Cholera infections in Juba.

According to the UN children agency, 11 people have died in the suspected cholera outbreak that was first detected in May.

On Tuesday, UNICEF said there were 72 suspected cases of Cholera, with 36 of them reported in Juba, including the 11 people who have already died of the disease. Some of the cases were reported in Bor and Terekeka.

The International Office for Migration says one suspected case was identified at its primary health care clinic at Tong Ping on Saturday.

The IOM says the case tested positive and is undergoing culture confirmation; the patient has been transferred to the Juba Teaching Hospital, where Médecins Sans Frontières is supporting a Cholera Treatment Centre.

The Ministry of Health says it cannot declare any outbreak now because the samples are undergoing final laboratory testing.

Over the weekend, the ministry issued an alert to the public after suspected cases started arriving at Juba Teaching Hospital.

One suspected case came from inside a United Nations base in Juba, raising fears that it could spread among the 4,000 people sheltering there.

The IOM says it is working together with the humanitarian agency, Medair, in setting up the camps.

In a statement, the IOM migration health program manager, Kelsi Kriitmaa says good hygiene is important in controlling the spread of cholera.

Kelsi says the IOM is intensifying training of health and hygiene promoters to spread basic messaging on best practices such as handwashing and drinking safe water.

Cholera is spread through eating or drinking contaminated food or water and can be prevented through proper hygiene. Some of the signs of the disease include diarrhea and vomiting.

Last year, 47 people died in a cholera outbreak in South Sudan, and 167 died from the disease in 2014.

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