Cholera death toll in south rises to 238

A cholera outbreak in southern Sudan has claimed the lives of 238 people and infected almost 9,000 others during the past three months, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said.

The two most severely affected areas were the towns of Juba and Yei. Some 4,543 cases, including 88 fatalities, were reported in Juba and 1,807 cases, among them 54 deaths, occurred in Yei, according to a WHO update on the outbreak released on Wednesday.

"The situation in Yei is stable and improving daily, with the last reported case received on 20 March and only sporadic cases appearing in the town. The outbreak in Yei was declared officially over by the Under-Secretary of Health of the government of southern Sudan on 14 March," the report said. In Juba, WHO said the situation was improving, with the number of cholera cases consistently decreasing during the past three weeks.

A total of 2,573 cases and 96 deaths, however, were reported in locations outside Yei and Juba, WHO added. Control measures, including strengthening surveillance and reporting systems, improving case management and water chlorination were continuing.