Dengue fever outbreak worsens in Khartoum’s East Nile area

October 2, 2024 (KHARTOUM BAHRI) – A surge in dengue fever cases in Khartoum State’s East Nile area has claimed ten lives and infected 194 people, according to the area’s Emergency Room.

The area, controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since the war began in April 2023, is grappling with a severe health crisis, including shortages of diagnostic tools, blood banks, and essential medicines.

Between Sept. 18 and Sept. 26, the Emergency Room’s medical office recorded 194 dengue cases and 10 deaths in Soba East and Al-Jarif East. An additional 243 cases of unidentified fevers have also been reported, resulting in 10 further fatalities. A lack of diagnostic resources has hampered efforts to identify and confirm dengue and other fevers accurately.

“We are facing immense challenges,” an East Nile Emergency Room member told Sudan Tribune. “We lack the necessary diagnostic tools and tests. Intravenous solutions and paracetamol are scarce, with the price of a single IV solution exceeding 3,000 Sudanese pounds.”

The absence of blood banks in local health units and a lack of resources to establish a local blood bank are further exacerbating the crisis. Health officials are particularly concerned about cases progressing to the hemorrhagic stage, which is difficult to manage.

The outbreak has also impacted medical staff and volunteers at Al-Ban Jadeed Hospital, where numerous departments have been closed due to infections among personnel. Only the maternity and emergency departments remain operational. Several community kitchens and shelters have also been forced to suspend operations after volunteers contracted the disease.

The Emergency Room has issued an urgent appeal to health organizations for immediate intervention and support, including medical aid deliveries, to help save lives in the region.