Dateline ACT
Sudan 2/99

Cholera confirmed in Akobo, Southern Sudan

Reported by Victor Lugala, Nairobi, April 26, 1999
An outbreak of cholera has been confirmed in the south eastern Sudanese town of Akobo. Over 200 people are reported to have died since April 5, according to Dr Margaret Itto, the Medical Coordinator the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC). Dr Itto has just returned from the area.

Dr Itto said the only medical NGO on the ground, Medicins Sans Frontier (MSF) Belgium confirmed that out of 16 samples of stool brought to Nairobi for laboratory analysis, 12 were diagnosed to be carrying the cholera bacteria.

She said MSF is trying to contain the outbreak, which has spread to the outlying villages, by treating patients in Akobo hospital and three other health units in the outskirts of the town. The medicines are reportedly not sufficient and there are no cholera vaccines so far.

Dr Itto said that since the outbreak started on April 5, 18 death cases have been registered officially in the hospital, however in the villages the disease is reported to have killed more than 200 people.

Akobo town has a total population of 10,000 people and the outlying villages have a collective population of 60,000 people. Villages which are between two to six miles walking distance from Akobo town appear to be affected with the diease.

Dr. Itto said the outbreak is caused by lack of hygiene and clean drinking water. There are no latrines and people ease themselves in the open fields exposing their feces to swarms of flies. She also said the local people, the Nuer, drink water directly from the river Pibor without boiling it.

In a bid to curb the outbreak , Dr Itto said MSF in Akobo town has launched an awareness campaign. Health workers go round the town with hand held loud speakers advising people to drink boiled water or drink water from the water pumps and to wash their hands after answering nature's call. There are three water pumps in Akobo catering for 10,000 people.

Dr Itto said if the outbreak is not curbed, many more people are likely to die when the imminent rainy season begins.

Cholera is a communicable waterborne disease caused by the comma bacillus bacteria.

Victor Lugala is the Communications Officer with the New Sudan Council Of Churches.