In response to a cholera outbreak, Mohamed Saber Mohamed Ahmed, the CEO of Al-Dabba locality in Sudan, has mandated the closure of all schools and markets in the city.
The directive, effective from Tuesday through the following Saturday, exempts pharmacies and bakeries from the closures, according to Al-Rakoba News.
The decision follows the Sudanese Health Minister, Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim’s official announcement in mid-August about the resurgence of cholera cases in the country.
Sudan News Agency reported that laboratory tests on aqueous diarrhea at the “Estac” Public Health Laboratory confirmed the presence of cholera in Sudan.
This health crisis prompted a special meeting to discuss the developments triggered by recent rains, floods, and related diseases, held at the Federal Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Center.
The meeting saw participation from federal health officials, Kassala state’s health ministry, United Nations agencies, and several experts.
Following the test results, Minister Ibrahim declared, “We announce the presence of a cholera epidemic in Sudan, after a hiatus of over two months,” attributing the disease’s return to poor environmental conditions and contaminated water supplies.
A recent epidemiological report noted 11 new cholera cases across four states last Wednesday, bringing the total to 300 nationwide.
The report also recorded a death in Wad Halayu locality, increasing the total fatalities to 18. Wad Halayu has the highest cholera incidence rate, with 143 total cases, including seven new ones recorded last Tuesday.
According to the report, the autumn season affected three states—White Nile, Northern, and River Nile—involving nine states, 40 localities, 19,944 affected families, and 40,440 individuals since June 6 through August 14, 2023.
The ongoing violent confrontations between the army and the Rapid Support Forces since April 15, 2023, have exacerbated humanitarian crises across extensive areas of Darfur, Kordofan, Al Gezira, and Sennar, underscoring the challenging conditions facing Sudan.
