Dozens die in North Darfur’s Jebel ‘Amer

Dozens of people died recently, owing to the spread of various diseases in the gold mining area of Jebel ‘Amer, El Sareif Beni Hussein locality in North Darfur.

“False smallpox and measles caused the death of a number of gold miners lately. Three others died of hemorrhagic fever,” an activist reported to Radio Dabanga from El Sareif town. He mentioned the false smallpox by the name of "bergm".

The activist said that members of the El Sareif Youth Group, accompanied by a number of health workers, had visited Jebel ‘Amer last week, after 17 prospectors had died on one day.

“People there told us that five gold miners were taken to Kabkabiya hospital, three to a hospital in Saraf Umra, and one is currently being treated in El Sareif.”

According to the source, the deteriorating health environment resulting from the overcrowding of workers in the mines has caused the rapid spread of the diseases.