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Lakes State reports 223 cholera cases, 9 deaths in Yirol and Awerial

Author: Yang Ater | Published: February 2, 2025

A child receives oral cholera vaccine in South Sudan. Photo: Ella Glass, Courtesy of Medair (2017)

Lakes State has confirmed 223 cases of cholera in Greater Yirol, including Yirol West, Yirol East, and Awerial counties, with 21 new cases reported in on Monday and Tuesday.

Twelve of the new cases were registered in Yirol East and 9 in Awerial.

The cholera outbreak, which has been ongoing for several months, has claimed nine lives between December 2024 and January 2025.

In an interview with EYE Radio on Thursday, Dr. Maker Malok, the Director General of the Ministry of Health in Lakes State, provided an update on the situation. “We currently have a total of 263 cholera cases across Yirol East, Yirol West, and Awerial counties,” he stated.

Of the 263 cases, 203 have recovered and been discharged, while nine people have died from the disease. Dr. Malok also revealed that 86 samples were sent to Juba for confirmation, with nine of them testing positive for cholera.

The Ministry of Health has declared Lakes State a cholera zone. A response team, consisting of health officers contracted by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been deployed across the three affected counties.

“We are working hard to reach all affected areas,” Dr. Malok added.

One of the major challenges in curbing the outbreak, according to Dr. Malok, is that many communities continue to rely on untreated water from the Nile River. “We are doing our best to educate people about the importance of safe water use, but many are still unaware of the risks, which is why new cases continue to emerge.”

The cholera outbreak in Lakes State has now been ongoing for two months, and health authorities are closely monitoring the situation. Surveillance officers are still awaiting updates on new cases.

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