A cholera outbreak in southern Sudan killed nearly 60 people and about 1,300 people were sick, health authorities said on Saturday.
The Ministry of Health said the outbreak in the southern city of Costi was mainly blamed on contaminated drinking water after the city's water plant was stopped due to the attacks by the infamous paramilitary group. The organization has been fighting the country's military for about two years.
The disease killed 58 people between Thursday and Saturday and 1,293 people were sick, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said a range of measures have been taken to combat the outbreak, including a vaccination campaign against cholera in the city.
The disease killed more than 600 people between July and October last year and ill more than 21,000 people.
Cholera is a highly contagious disease that can cause diarrhea and cause severe dehydration, which can be fatal if not treated immediately. It is transmitted through the intake of contaminated food or water.
