Health scare in North Darfur

15 succumb to deadly bacterial disease in Eiyal Amin; 37 TB cases reported in El Fasher camps

15 people have died in North Darfur’s Eiyal Amin area in Atuesha locality as a result of a high-risk bacterial disease, the state’s health ministry announced on Friday.

The North Darfur health minister retired General Mohammed Mahajoub Karam Alla said in an interview with Radio Dabanga that a medical team sent by the health ministry reported a high-risk bacterial disease in the region. “The disease involves high fever and inflammation in the throat. It’s fast-spreading, especially among children,” he said.

He pointed out that there had been nine registered cases of the disease and said that they would introduce a vaccination drive for the citizens. “We will shut down schools if necessary to contain the disease. The disease has spread because of no vaccination since the beginning of the conflict in Darfur in 2003,” Karam Allah said.

He added that a number of teams have been sent to the area to conduct examinations and provide treatment to patients.

TB in El Fasher camps

On the other hand, an anti-tuberculosis medical team from the federal ministry of health revealed the existence of tuberculosis in Zamzam, Abushok and Asalam refugee camps of North Darfur.

Karam Allah said in an interview with Radio Dabanga that the team had detected the presence of 37 cases of tuberculosis in those camps, including 17 cases in Zamzam, 15 in Abushok and five in Asalam camp.

“The team conducted an examination on the 13,000 displaced people. They were asked to open 20 new examination centers for TB apart from 17 already present,” he said.