Elisabeth Janaina
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South Sudan to launch cholera vaccination campaign next Friday
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WHO receives 500 000 doses of Oral Cholera Vaccine for a planned
campaign in South Sudan. WHO South Sudan (WHO/L. Luwaga photo)
July 21, 2017 (JUBA) — The UN World Health Organisation and the South
Sudanese ministry of health will launch a cholera vaccination campaign
next Friday, after a rise in cholera cases.
According to the UN body, 17 785 cholera cases including 320 (CFR
1.8%) deaths have been reported from 24 counties in South Sudan since
the outbreak in June 2106.
In a statement released this week, WHO said it works with the with the
Republic of South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and partners to scale up
cholera vaccination campaign from 28 July to 3 August 2017.
WHO further said they received 500 000 doses of oral cholera vaccine
(OCV) and they plan to use it to contain the outbreak which spreads
along major commercial routes and rivers.
The campaign will cover areas with high active transmission including
Tonj East, Kapoeta South, Kapoeta North and Kapoeta East counties. In
Tonj East, the surrounding payams will be targeted to limit further
spread of the outbreak.
The use of the OCV is one of the strategies available to prevent and
combat outbreaks. At the same time, South Sudan is implementing the
integrated approach for cholera control, said the statement.
WHO further said they will combine strategies for improving access to
patient care, surveillance, social mobilisation, water, sanitation and
hygiene, and use of oral cholera vaccines.
“Cholera is endemic in South Sudan and historically, outbreaks have
occurred along major commercial routes and rivers in the dry season as
well as during the rainy season,” said Dr Joseph Wamala, WHO
Epidemiologist.
Cholera is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae
that results in an acute diarrheal illness. People acquire the disease
through consumption of food or water contaminated with the bacterium,
Vibrio cholerae.
(ST)