The first fatality, Manut Kaam, 30, died early Saturday while being rushed to Madhol Field Hospital—a facility built earlier this year with support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Eyewitness Garang Bol, a resident of the area, said they attempted to save Kaam, who was showing severe symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, fatigue, and rapid weight loss.
“He lost his ability to speak and passed away on the way to the hospital,” Bol said, describing Kaam as a hardworking man who supported his family through manual labour.
A second death was reported Sunday evening. The victim, Nyanut Deng, lived in the same village and reportedly exhibited similar symptoms before tragically passing away.
Another elderly woman is currently undergoing treatment at Madhol Field Hospital with what appears to be the same illness. Medical staff are monitoring her condition closely.
A nurse at the hospital, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the deceased individuals likely died of cholera.
He urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or watery diarrhoea appear. “We advise against using traditional remedies for such acute infections, as they often worsen the situation,” he warned.
Health officials report that cases are concentrated in Weel village and the surrounding areas of Madhol Payam. Authorities are currently assessing the outbreak’s scale before requesting intervention from international health organizations.
Despite a cholera vaccination campaign conducted earlier this year, Northern Bahr El Ghazal continues to struggle with new cases. Health officials attribute the situation partly to low public turnout during the two rounds of free vaccinations.
