Infectious disease outbreaks in Sudan following the April 2023 conflict a scoping review of cholera dengue measles and vaccine-derived poliovirus risks 2023 to 2025
1
Sudanese Academy of Young Scientists, Sudanese Academy of Young Scientists, Khartoum, Sudan
2
Shayoub Pharmaceuticals laboratory, Khartoum, Sudan
3
Palestine polytechnic university, Alkhalil, Palestinian Territory, Occupied
4
Health & Environment Adviser, Sudanese National Academy of Science, Khartoum, Sudan
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
armed conflict in sudan since april 2023 has disrupted health services, water and sanitation systems, and routine immunization, creating conditions conducive to epidemic-prone infectious diseases.¹ this scoping review mapped post-conflict outbreaks and risks related to cholera, dengue, measles, and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) between 2023 and 2025.
METHODS:
a scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidance.² peer-reviewed and grey literature published between january 2023 and december 2025 were included. primary national surveillance outputs from the sudan federal ministry of health and the emergency operations centre were triangulated with situation reports and alerts from WHO/WHO emro, UNICEF, and humanitarian partners.¹,³ data were charted by disease, geographic distribution, reported cases and deaths, and key operational drivers including displacement, water sanitation and hygiene disruption, and immunization interruptions.
RESULTS:
the review identified concurrent multi-hazard outbreaks following the conflict. cholera and acute watery diarrhoea expanded nationwide in 2025; WHO reported 48768 cases and 1094 deaths between january and mid-august 2025, with transmission affecting all 18 states.⁴ humanitarian operational updates reported >83000 suspected cases and >2100 deaths cumulatively by mid-2025.⁵ measles resurgence was consistent with sharp declines in immunization coverage and rising zero-dose gaps during the conflict period.⁶,⁷ polio risk increased with documented cVDPV2 activity in 2025, including confirmed cases reported through regional surveillance bulletins, and ongoing global concern regarding cVDPV2 spread.⁸,⁹
CONCLUSIONS:
sudan experienced overlapping infectious disease threats driven by conflict-related breakdown of water and sanitation services, mass displacement, and sustained immunization disruption. priorities include strengthened cholera prevention and case management, accelerated measles catch-up vaccination, and sustained poliovirus surveillance supported by high-quality outbreak response campaigns.³,⁷
armed conflict in sudan since april 2023 has disrupted health services, water and sanitation systems, and routine immunization, creating conditions conducive to epidemic-prone infectious diseases.¹ this scoping review mapped post-conflict outbreaks and risks related to cholera, dengue, measles, and circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) between 2023 and 2025.
METHODS:
a scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidance.² peer-reviewed and grey literature published between january 2023 and december 2025 were included. primary national surveillance outputs from the sudan federal ministry of health and the emergency operations centre were triangulated with situation reports and alerts from WHO/WHO emro, UNICEF, and humanitarian partners.¹,³ data were charted by disease, geographic distribution, reported cases and deaths, and key operational drivers including displacement, water sanitation and hygiene disruption, and immunization interruptions.
RESULTS:
the review identified concurrent multi-hazard outbreaks following the conflict. cholera and acute watery diarrhoea expanded nationwide in 2025; WHO reported 48768 cases and 1094 deaths between january and mid-august 2025, with transmission affecting all 18 states.⁴ humanitarian operational updates reported >83000 suspected cases and >2100 deaths cumulatively by mid-2025.⁵ measles resurgence was consistent with sharp declines in immunization coverage and rising zero-dose gaps during the conflict period.⁶,⁷ polio risk increased with documented cVDPV2 activity in 2025, including confirmed cases reported through regional surveillance bulletins, and ongoing global concern regarding cVDPV2 spread.⁸,⁹
CONCLUSIONS:
sudan experienced overlapping infectious disease threats driven by conflict-related breakdown of water and sanitation services, mass displacement, and sustained immunization disruption. priorities include strengthened cholera prevention and case management, accelerated measles catch-up vaccination, and sustained poliovirus surveillance supported by high-quality outbreak response campaigns.³,⁷
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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