Sudan declares dengue fever cases in Khartoum for the first time
March 1, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan on Wednesday declared a fever epidemic in Khartoum state, after confirming 533 cases of the disease, with another 928 suspected cases being monitored.
Cases of mosquito-borne illness occur every year in Darfur, Kordofan regions and some areas of central Sudan due to the fragile health system in the country.
On February 15, 2023, the minister of health for the first time announced the existence of dengue fever in Khartoum state and announced that 169 suspected cases had been recorded, including 110 confirmed cases.
The Director of the General Department of Health Emergencies and Epidemic Control at the Federal Health Montaser Mohamed Osman told Sudan Tribune on Wednesday that the number of suspected cases of dengue fever in Khartoum reached 928 cases, including 533 confirmed infections.
Osman added that two people died from the disease in Khartoum.
Also, he indicated that most of the cases in Khartoum were concentrated in Umbada district 20; in western Khartoum state and Karari in the northwestern area of the state.
He further warned against an increase in cases during the coming wet session.
The official called on the relevant government agencies to provide the needed gear and equipment to conduct prevention and control operations.
The health ministry stopped the regular insecticide space spraying for preventing malaria and dengue transmission due to the deteriorating economic conditions in the country.
The disease is transmitted by the bite of female mosquitoes. It is occurring on a larger scale due to the increased movement of people and goods and floods linked to climate change.
(ST)