Cholera Outbreak in South Sudan

WHO reports that the outbreak has claimed nine lives so far.

Another estimated 138 cholera cases had also been registered by Monday.

This comes amid civil war in the country that has left thousands homeless and disrupted food supplies and health services.

Since the outbreak in the capital Juba late last week WHO says that the cases are doubling every day with new reported cases in two additional states, Jonglei and Upper Nile.

Aid agencies now say that even a ceasefire will not immediately resolve the dire humanitarian situation in the country because dozens of children are among those affected by the outbreak.

They say that to deal with the outbreak, an emergency ward has been set up to handle cholera cases at Juba Teaching Hospital.

The Director General at Juba Teaching hospital. Dr Lolik Lado says that just like any other epidemic, the vulnerable groups like the old people and the children will suffer the most.

Various aid agencies are also reported to have warned of the threat of cholera in thenow overcrowded camps following continued violence and the the rains.

Last month, UNICEF said that unless nutrition treatment is scaled up immediately, up to 50,000 children under the age of five are likely to die.

UNICEF however says that about 80,000 people in South Sudan have now been fully vaccinated against cholera.

By Cecilia Garama

SOURCE: BBC,Aljazeera, UNICEF