Sharjah 24 – AFP: Sudan's health minister on Saturday declared a cholera epidemic after weeks of heavy rain in the war-torn country, in a video released by his ministry.
"We are declaring a cholera epidemic because of the weather conditions and because drinking water has been contaminated," Haitham Ibrahim said in the video.
He said the decision was taken in conjunction with authorities in the eastern state of Kassala, United Nations agencies and experts after the "discovery by the public health laboratory of the cholera virus".
For weeks the country has seen torrential rainfall, with Kassala state badly hit. The authorities there have appealed for "immediate" and "urgent" international aid.
Thousands of people have been displaced by flooding, causing an increase in sickness including diarrhoea, especially in children.
Cholera causes severe diarrhoea, vomiting and muscle cramps, and generally arises from eating or drinking food or water that is contaminated with the bacterium, according to the World Health Organization.
It can cause severe dehydration, leading in some cases to death within a few hours.
The WHO, a UN agency, said 307,433 cases of cholera and 2,326 deaths have been reported in 26 countries up to July 28.
For an optimal experience, please
