A cholera outbreak in Ethiopia’s Gambella region has resulted in at least 31 deaths and over 1,500 infections in the past month, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). The international medical charity described the situation as “rapidly spreading,” with the influx of people fleeing violence in neighboring South Sudan exacerbating the crisis.
MSF reported that cholera is swiftly spreading across western Ethiopia, while South Sudan is simultaneously battling its own outbreak, putting thousands of lives at risk. Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous country with approximately 120 million people, is grappling with multiple cholera outbreaks, with the Amhara region being one of the most affected.
Cholera is a severe intestinal infection caused by consuming food or water contaminated with the vibrio cholerae bacterium, often originating from fecal matter.
Impact of Cholera in South Sudan
In South Sudan’s Akobo County, situated in the Upper Nile region, 1,300 cases have been reported within the last four weeks. MSF noted that recent clashes between the South Sudanese government and armed groups have worsened the outbreak, displacing thousands and depriving them of access to healthcare, clean water, and sanitation facilities.
South Sudan, still plagued by instability and poverty, declared a cholera epidemic in October.
The World Health Organization revealed that in 2023, approximately 4,000 people died from cholera, a preventable and treatable disease, marking a 71% increase from the previous year, with the majority of cases occurring in Africa.