Health Ministry investigates skin disease spread in West Darfur

The Director General of the Ministry of Health in West Darfur, Fathelrahman Abdelrazig Abdelkarim has denied the occurrence of deaths in the state due to Kala Azar (leishmaniasis), scabies, or allergies. He, however, warned that a lack of attention and absence of treatment of the diseases might lead to deaths. The official acknowledged a rapid increase of cases of scabies and referred to new cases among pupils of basic schools for the displaced in Ardamata and Kireindinq II in the locality of El Geneina, and in the areas of Dur Shari and Hajar Tama. He noted that it is difficult to control the fast-spreading disease, especially among school children, in the light of the limited capabilities of the state. He also acknowledged that the infected people in the area of Umm Doween, south of Kereinik, have so far not been accessed due to inaccessibility of the valleys that are still full of water. Abdelkarim stressed that the state Ministry of Health has developed a plan to control and eliminate the disease as soon as possible. The federal Ministry of Health on Wednesday issued a statement, announcing that 517 cases of scabies have been found in West Darfur. The survey executed by Ministry also revealed 222 cases of skin infections in the village of Umm Dukhun and 317 similar cases in the surrounding villages. The statement of the Ministry of Health also pointed out that the dermatologists sent by the Ministry have examined about 200 of these cases. They detected that of the skin diseases encountered, scabies represents 40 per cent of the cases, post-Kala Azar dermal leishmaniasis 25 per cent, seasonal autumn allergies 20 per cent, fungal infections 10 per cent and other skin diseases 5 per cent. The authorities of Mershing locality in South Darfur have warned its residents to take caution due to the emergence of rabies in the locality. The people are advised to move in groups and not leave their villages at night. A witness informed Radio Dabanga that a group of herders in the area of Dumma have been infected with rabies caused by eating infected camel meat. Two of them have died, while the others fled towards Mershing. The patients’ relatives told the authorities that the patients are armed and dangerous. File photo by Hamid Abdulsalam / Unamid Related: Sudan government failing to provide health care: sheikh (19 September 2013) Diseases kill at least 25 in three Darfur states (16 September 2013)