Fears of further spread of cholera in the south

The onset of the rainy season and an increase in the number of returnees following the year-old southern Sudan peace agreement could further spread cholera in the south, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. While a recent cholera outbreak in Juba and Yei had stabilised, new cases were being reported in Terekeka County north of Juba, and Torit and Kapoeta to the east. The disease had also been reported in Bor and Pibor in Jonglei state, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the two organisations. Joachim Kreysler, an epidemiologist and delegate of the Federation who has just returned from a visit to the south, said the disease was now in four of the southern states and appeared to be moving north along the River Nile. "Cases have been recorded in Malakal in Upper Nile province, and there's a risk of an outbreak further north, where large groups of people are living under poor sanitation conditions for long stretches of time," he said. "Bor is of particular concern because it is the target community for a returning population of some 20,000 people [and their cattle], of which 5,000 are now staying in the Lologo transit camp just outside Juba," the statement said. Further west, Tonj and Wau are at risk because they are also heavily populated with returnees, said Arthur Agany Poole, the Sudanese Red Crescent Society coordinator for southern Sudan. Although new cases had begun to decline in Juba by the end of February, Poole cautioned that cholera remained a threat. "Juba is heavily populated. You find 20 people in one house where five used to live. Sanitation, latrines are just not there. With the rains there could be disaster in Juba," he said. Cholera was first reported in Yei in late January. On 6 March, the United Nations World Health Organization reported that the death toll in southern Sudan had reached 127. A joint task force, consisting of Sudanese health officials and other organisations, reported a total of 5,634 cases between 28 January and 3 March.