Darfur citizens: government secrecy about yellow fever

Citizens from Central, West and South Darfur complained about the secrecy of the government of Sudan regarding information about the spread, level of incidence and cause of the yellow fever, Radio Dabanga has learned on Monday 5 November. They also denounced the scarcity of medicines, vaccines, preventive guidance and ambulances for citizens in the most affected regions. In addition, residents demanded that governors of Darfur declare the region a ‘disaster area’. Four dead in Jebel Ahmar Residents from the village of Goz Miti in Jebel Ahmar, Central Darfur, told Radio Dabanga that 20 people were transferred from Jebel Ahmar to the Nyala hospital on Sunday, adding that four of them died so far. The others, they said, remain in critical condition. They criticized the government saying it does not care about the health of its citizens nor does it seek to treat them. Lastly, the citizens appealed to health international organizations led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to rush to the affected areas and provide them with urgent medical aid and health care. West Darfur: nine dead The Minister of Health from West Darfur, Ahmed Ishag Ya’goub, announced that nine people died and another 36 got infected with yellow fever as of Sunday. According to him, these numbers refer to one death and 18 infections in Mornei, Krenik locality; to six deaths and 10 infections in Habila locality; and to two deaths and eight infections in El-Geneina locality. The minister stressed that yellow fever is emerging in a number of localities in West Darfur. Nyala hospital: 37 new patients At the same time, Dr. Ali Merghani, director of epidemiology from the Nyala hospital in South Darfur, revealed to Radio Dabanga that 37 new patients infected with yellow fever arrived at the hospital on Sunday. The director said that 19 of these people come from Central Darfur and 18 come from South Darfur. Merghani added that on Monday, the hospital received six cases from new localities in Darfur. He explained that four of them are from Central Darfur and the other two are from Kass and Mershing localities, South Darfur. New areas in Central Darfur A source from Central Darfur warned about the spread of yellow fever in the state, Radio Dabanga has learned. The source confirmed the emergence of the disease in new areas in Central Darfur and said that the most vulnerable areas are around Jebel Ahmar, namely Nertity locality and Tololu in Azum locality. According to him, quarantine posts were set up in Zalingei, Nertity and Garsila.Related content: Health Ministry: yellow fever claims 63 lives (5 November 2012)