At least one person has died in South Sudan in the latest cholera outbreak to be reported in South Sudan since the devastating outbreak in 2017, affecting more than 28,000 people with 644 deaths.

According to the Health Minister, Elizabeth Acuei Yol, a total of 31 cases, including one death was reported from Rubkona town and Bentiu IDP camp.

According to the ministry’s official report, a two-year-old girl at the Bentiu IDP camp first showed symptoms of Cholera on March 20 but was officially confirmed by authorities on April 14.

Subsequently, on 25 March, a 7-year-old child tested positive and died.

The ministry shared that the confirmed cases presented with watery diarrhoea, vomiting, and dehydration were admitted and managed at MSF Bentiu protection of civilians (POC) hospital, noting that all cases have now been discharged.

“Public is being urged not to panic but remain calm and observe all the precautionary measures to prevent community transmission and spread in populations with inadequate access to safe drinking water, poor personal hygiene, and inadequate access to improved sanitation facilities,” the ministry said in another statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Following the confirmation of the initial case, the ministry said it deployed a rapid response team to conduct rounds of oral cholera vaccination in the affected areas. Adequate supplies were also deployed to support the investigation and treatment of cases in Rubkona county and the Bentiu IDP camp.