29 September 2023, Cairo, Egypt – Sudan has declared a cholera outbreak in Gedaref State, where 264 suspected cholera cases, 4 confirmed cases and 16 associated deaths had been reported by 25 September 2023. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether cholera has also spread to Khartoum and South Kordofan states, where increased cases of acute watery diarrhoea have been reported.  

Dr Nima Abid, WHO Representative in Sudan, visited Gedaref State on 17 September 2023 and met with health authorities and partners to coordinate the response. “Unhindered access to affected and neighbouring localities is essential to respond effectively to the ongoing outbreak,” said Dr Abid. “A cholera outbreak can have a devastating effect in the context of a health system already overstretched because of war, sh