Photo|Courtesy UNICEF South Sudan.

Over a million more cholera vaccine doses are on the way to reach people across South Sudan, including in the capital, Juba amid surge in the disease outbreak, according to the UN children agency, UNICEF.

According to UNICEF, since 28 October 2024, a total of 2,184 cases and 31 deaths have been reported, about 37% of them children.

The first of the cholera cases were reportedly imported from neighboring Sudan, where an outbreak has affected over 40,000 people.

Since April 2023, more than 880,000 people have fled Sudan and sought refuge in South Sudan with many arriving through the border crossing in Renk County.

On Tuesday, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Pasquale stated in an interview with Eye Radio that the fatality rate of the waterborne disease is slightly higher at 1.4 percent. This means around 200 cases and 7 deaths are recorded every 24 hours.

The public health official said the cholera outbreak has been reported in 18 counties in six states across the country.

In response to the outbreak, UNICEF said  vaccinations are being carried out in Renk County of Upper Nile state in response to a cholera outbreak in South Sudan.

The life-saving vaccination campaign which began on Tuesday is targeting some 150,000 people in Renk County.

UNICEF also reveals that over a million more vaccine doses are on the way to reach people across the country, including in the capital, Juba.

It said, this effort is part of a wider campaign involving the government, UN agencies, NGOs, and partners, focused on delivering healthcare, clean water provision, and hygiene promotion.

UNICEF cited Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng as saying; “These vaccinations are vital to protect the population and she called upon the public, health professionals and community leaders to make the campaigns a success while taking every possible measure to prevent the spread of the disease.”

Meanwhile, Ms. Anita Kiki Gbeho, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for South Sudan said: “The UN is committed to working closely with the Government of South Sudan to ensure inclusive coordination, clear public communication, and transparent data sharing, essential for effective preparedness, readiness, and response.

Cholera is a deadly disease transmitted through the ingestion of contaminated food or water, leaving patients with severe acute watery diarrhea and it can kill within hours if left untreated, according to WHO.