May 13, 2006 (Malakal) — A medical officer in Malakal says that the number of cholera cases being reported in the town have gone down.

But speaking to Sudan Radio Service on condition of anonymity, the medical worker warned that with the onset of the rainy season, cholera could worsen unless health authorities in the state carry out a sensitisation campaign designed to help people protect themselves.

Our colleague John Tanza is in Malakal and has this report.

[John Tanza]: “Cases of cholera in Upper Nile state have stabilized in the state within this week. Two days ago, a medical worker reported that 24 cases were registered in a medical center set up to take care of the cholera patients but the number of cholera patients has reduced from 24 to 11 on Thursday.  The medical worker said there is lack of food for the patients at the center who are in dire need of balanced diet to replace fluids lost from their bodies. She further said all the patients are depending on food from their relatives, which can help spread the disease.”

The cholera outbreak in southern Sudan was first reported in Yei in January.

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