Cholera Outbreak Spreads Across Kordofan as Health System Faces Shortages

KHARTOUM, July 1, 2026 - A growing cholera outbreak in Sudan’s West and North Kordofan states has infected hundreds of people and caused more than 100 deaths, as health authorities and volunteers struggle to respond amid severe shortages of medical supplies. Health officials reported 911 confirmed cholera cases and 127 fatalities across the two states, with the Al-Mazroub area in North Kordofan emerging as one of the main centres of the outbreak. The area recorded around 300 infections and 16 deaths within three weeks after the disease spread from neighbouring West Kordofan. The Ministry of Health has established isolation and rehydration centres in affected areas and activated emergency response mechanisms to monitor the spread of the disease and coordinate medical interventions. However, volunteers working in North and West Kordofan have warned that shortages of essential medicines and treatment supplies are threatening efforts to contain the outbreak, particularly in conflict-affected areas where access to healthcare remains limited. Health authorities and humanitarian partners have increased efforts to provide medical assistance, strengthen disease monitoring, and improve access to clean water and sanitation services to slow transmission. The health situation is further complicated by displacement and damaged infrastructure linked to the ongoing conflict, which has weakened public health systems and increased the risk of disease outbreaks. Authorities are also maintaining preventive measures against other health threats, including border screening and temperature checks for travelers as part of preparations against potential Ebola risks. Health officials said efforts are underway to expand emergency treatment capacity, including the completion of a specialized Ebola isolation facility and improvements to national laboratory capabilities. Despite these measures, the availability of essential epidemic medicines, intravenous fluids, and other medical supplies remains uneven across Sudan’s states. Meanwhile, health authorities announced that a polio reference laboratory in Red Sea State has resumed operations after rehabilitation support, allowing Sudan to conduct polio testing domestically and strengthen its disease surveillance capacity.