Sudanese team to East Darfur to combat haemorrhagic fever

People in Ed Daein, capital of East Darfur, took to the streets this morning in protest against the silence of the authorities regarding the spread of haemorrhagic fever in the state. A medical team from the federal Ministry of Health arrived at Ed Daein later today. Displaced people in Central Darfur call for help to prevent the spread of the disease.

The demonstrators went to the East Darfur Parliament building, where they called for the dismissal of the state Minister of Health, an activist told Radio Dabanga from Ed Daein.

“A few days ago, the Minister said that East Darfuris suffering from fever are afflicted with malaria,” he explained.

“Yet, after Eisa Omar Adam, a forest manager in Ferdous locality died of haemorrhagic fever, and infected two others, who are currently being treated at Ed Daein Hospital Daein, the people decided to stage a protest.”

The chairman of the Parliament addressed the demonstrators and summoned the Minister of Health, who confirmed the emergence of haemorrhagic fever, and the existence of two patients at the hospital.

Intervention

A medical team from the federal Ministry of Health arrived at Ed Daein later today. A medic told Radio Dabanga that the team immediately proceeded to take samples from patients in all districts of the East Darfur capital.

The suspect cases will be transferred to quarantine, the medical source said. The team will conduct tests in all the localities.

He added that the residents of Ed Daein are terrified of the disease. “It is paralysing life in the city to a large extent.”

Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) affects many organs, damages blood vessels, and affects the body’s ability to regulate itself. While some types of haemorrhagic fever viruses can cause relatively mild illnesses, many of these viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease. 

Central Darfur

The displaced in Zalingei and Wadi Salih localities are also extremely worried about the spread of haemorrhagic fever.

The coordinator of the Central Darfur camps told Radio Dabanga three days ago that 39 camp residents in Zalingei locality are afflicted. 16 of them had died.

“The first case was recorded in July and the latest victim was a child from Hamidiya camp that died in Zalingei Hospital,” he said.

Today, he called via Radio Dabanga upon the Central Darfur and Sudanese Ministries of Health to “immediately intervene, provide treatment for the infected, and enough vaccines to protect the people from this deadly disease”.