MSF Suspects 80 Mpox Cases in Darfur’s Jebel Marra
May 18, KHARTOUM – The international medical humanitarian organization Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) announced on Monday that it has recorded 80 suspected cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox) in the East Jebel Marra locality of South Darfur State.
Health officials fear a widespread outbreak of the viral disease across Jebel Marra and the neighboring Tawila locality, an area that hosts approximately 700,000 displaced persons. The high population density in displacement camps, frequent population movements, and a total lack of preventative measures have heightened concerns over rapid transmission.
In a response to inquiries from Sudan Tribune, MSF stated that its medical teams have managed more than 80 suspected mpox cases since May 2 in the Java and Souni areas of East Jebel Marra.
The organization added that it is actively collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) to collect biological samples for diagnostic testing, noting that they are awaiting the final laboratory results to officially confirm the infections.
“We are closely monitoring the situation regarding suspected mpox cases in primary healthcare centers across Java and Souni,” MSF said, clarifying that “no outbreak has been officially confirmed yet.”
Mpox is a relatively rare viral disease caused by the mpox virus, a member of the Poxviridae family. Symptoms include fever, severe headache, muscle and backaches, profound fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes—the latter being a key clinical feature that distinguishes it from chickenpox. A rash typically develops one to three days after the onset of fever, appearing primarily on the face, hands, and feet before spreading to other parts of the body. The virus is transmitted through close personal contact, respiratory droplets, or contact with contaminated surfaces.
Primary healthcare centers in the Jebel Marra region suffer from an acute shortage of essential medicines and diagnostic equipment. The crisis is compounded by the fact that all referral and teaching hospitals across the wider Darfur region have ceased operations, following the collapse of central government control over most territories.
In addition to the viral threat, MSF disclosed that its medical teams in the same area have treated more than 100 suspected cases of whooping cough (pertussis).
The civil administration of the Sudan Liberation Movement, led by Abdul Wahid Al-Nur (SLM-AW), issued a statement on Saturday claiming that 200 mpox cases had already been documented in the Souni, Java, and Dere areas of East Jebel Marra.
The movement described the health situation as a major catastrophe threatening the lives of an estimated 10 million people living under its control, expressing deep fears that the disease could expand beyond control.
Separately, Adam Regal, the spokesperson for the General Coordination for Displaced Persons and Refugees, confirmed that the Jebel Marra region has seen more than 200 suspected mpox cases, predominantly among children. He added that 259 suspected cases of whooping cough have also been registered in the area.
Regal warned that children in Jebel Marra are suffering from wasting and severe weight loss, while pregnant women face high mortality risks during childbirth due to acute malnutrition and a lack of reproductive healthcare. He noted that malaria, watery diarrhea, and respiratory tract infections are already rampant across the camps.
“The total reliance of displaced families on contaminated water sources is drastically accelerating the spread of these waterborne and infectious diseases,” Regal emphasized.
Jebel Marra, which spans parts of Central and South Darfur states, remains one of the most geographically isolated regions in Sudan. The rugged, mountainous terrain severely restricts the delivery of medical supplies, forcing vaccination teams and emergency responders to rely on donkeys and camels for transport.