Diarrhea cases surge in Twic County as medics warn of looming public health crisis

KUAJOK – Health workers in Twic County in South Sudan’s Warrap State are raising alarm over a sharp rise in acute diarrheal cases, with local medics reporting a worrying surge since the beginning of January.
The spike has placed growing pressure on already fragile health services and heightened fears of a possible wider outbreak if urgent preventive measures are not taken.

Daniel Mathiang Malek, the in-charge of Mayen-Abun Health Facility, told Mayar FM in a local radio interview that the facility has recorded 168 diarrhea cases since January, a significant increase compared to December, when only 35 cases were reported.

“In December, we registered just 35 individuals suffering from diarrhoea, but since January began, the cases have surged rapidly,” Malek said.

According to him, 47 patients have so far been admitted to the inpatient ward with symptoms of acute diarrhoea. He explained that common symptoms among the patients include vomiting, anaemia, fatigue, and severe dehydration.

Malek provided a breakdown of the reported cases, noting that water-related diarrhoea infections among adults stand at 41, while 56 cases have been recorded among children. Acute diarrhoea cases include seven adults and 14 children. He warned that children remain particularly vulnerable due to weaker immune systems and limited access to clean water.

The medic attributed the outbreak largely to poor hygiene and unsanitary environmental conditions. He urged residents to take personal and community hygiene seriously to curb further spread of infections.

“From a public health perspective, the major contributing factor is poor hygiene. When people fail to maintain basic cleanliness, flies contaminate food, and this becomes a direct pathway for disease transmission,” he explained.

He further pointed to the consumption of improperly washed or uncovered food as another key risk factor, advising households to ensure food is thoroughly cleaned, well preserved, and protected from contamination.

Health workers also expressed concern that persistent diarrhoea cases could signal the risk of a cholera outbreak, a disease that has affected parts of South Sudan in the past. Malek called on residents to remain vigilant and report severe symptoms early to health facilities.

The surge in cases comes at a time when South Sudan’s health system is under increasing strain. The withdrawal of some international health support, including USAID-funded programs, has left many facilities under-resourced and struggling to meet growing demand.

Medics are now appealing to humanitarian partners and health authorities to step in with emergency support, including medical supplies, clean water initiatives, and community hygiene awareness campaigns.