Cholera outbreak in South Sudan: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a cholera outbreak in South Sudan with more than 1,000 cases recorded so far.

More than 1,210 cholera cases, including 39 deaths, have been reported mostly in Juba and Bor counties, Xinhua quoted UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq as saying on Tuesday.

"In response to the outbreak, health partners have set up cholera treatment centres and oral dehydration points in both the counties, and are conducting cholera prevention activities, including hygiene promotion and improvement of access to safe drinking water," said Haq.

UN humanitarian aid chief Stephen O'Brien is scheduled to arrive in the country on a four-day visit.

Earlier this month, South Sudan marked the fourth anniversary of its independence amid continuing conflict.

Recent weeks have seen an escalation of violence in Unity and Upper Nile states with heavy fighting forcing tens of thousands of people to flee to bushes and swamplands.

South Sudan's civil war and violence started in mid-December 2013. Political efforts so far have failed to bring an end to the conflict.