By Manas James Okony
Local authorities in Jonglei State’s Duk County are raising alarms over a severe cholera outbreak, which has resulted in at least 433 reported cases and 23 deaths since last month.
In an interview with No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Tuesday, Duk County Commissioner John Chatim Ruei detailed alarming statistics gathered between December 16 and January 6, noting that 170 patients are currently fighting for their lives in various facilities where treatment options are severely lacking.
“During my inspection of the Poktap Cholera Treatment Centre (CTC) on Tuesday, I found the situation to be deeply concerning,” Chatim stated.
“Since December 16, we have recorded a total of 433 cholera cases, with 230 individuals successfully discharged and 170 still hospitalized across the county. In Poktap alone, 23 patients are undergoing treatment, while 23 others have succumbed to the illness,” he added.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the commissioner said, “there is a critical shortage of drugs and injectable fluids. Cases are prevalent throughout the county, particularly in swampy areas. We urgently appeal for health intervention from our health ministry and partners. As we speak, eight patients, including four children, are in critical condition at Poktap CTC.”
Dr. Ding Stephen, medical director at the Poktap facility, indicated that although the outbreak is being contained, new cases continue to emerge.
“The outbreak is under control compared to before; however, we are still receiving fresh cases,” he reported.
One patient, Nyakoor Chuol, shared her experience: “I feel better after two days of hospitalization. A few days ago, my condition was dire. The problem now is that doctors are running out of drugs, and there is no food. We are appealing for assistance.”
Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The disease is often marked by severe vomiting and “rice water” diarrhea and can become fatal within hours if untreated.
Effective treatment primarily involves oral rehydration solutions (ORS), intravenous fluids, and antibiotics.
To mitigate the spread of cholera, it is critical to ensure adequate sanitation, including drinking clean treated water, avoiding open defecation, and properly covering food before serving it.