KHARTOUM, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's Ministry of Health officially declared the country free of the cholera epidemic Wednesday, meeting scientific standards and the International Health Regulations following an 18-month outbreak.

"Since January 14, no cases have been recorded in any state. Based on scientific data and the International Health Regulations, Sudan is free of the cholera epidemic," Montasir Mohamed Osman, head of the health emergencies and epidemics control directorate at the ministry, told Xinhua.

Osman explained that strict criteria for declaring the end of a cholera outbreak include two full incubation periods without new cases, confirmed cessation to local transmission, no active infection chains, and no new community hotspots or geographic spread.

"We can confirm that Sudan is free of the epidemic, unless cases come from abroad," he added.

The Ministry of Health conducted extensive containment efforts, administering 20 million vaccine doses, carrying out about 100 medical campaigns and holding 130 central emergency room meetings to monitor the epidemiological situation, said Osman.

Sudan first announced the outbreak of cholera in August 2024. According to earlier statistics, the country recorded over 100,000 cases nationwide, including about 2,408 deaths, between July 2024 and Dec. 21, 2025.

Cholera is a serious diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, with potentially fatal consequences if not treated promptly. ■