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Sudan Tribune

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Bilharzias hit Sudan’s Jonglei

By Philip Thon Aleu

October 22, 2009 (BOR) – Health authorities in Jonglei state today said cases of bilharzias outbreak have increased in the last two weeks with unknown deaths and at least 150 people hospitalized.

Speaking to the Sudan Tribune on Thursday, Arnold Marial Machuor, the state health ministry director general, indicates that greater Fangak in northern Jonglei is severely hit by bilharzias on one hand and hunger on the other.

“There are 150 cases [of bilharzias] in Fangak area,” Mr. Marial said adding “with increasing patients [in the health unit] there is also a problem of food shortage [to feed patients].”

At least 15 death cases have been reported but state health ministry could not verify the figures.

Bilharzias, also known as Schistosomiasis, or snail fever, is a primarily tropical parasitic disease caused by the larvae of one or more of five types of flatworms or blood flukes known as schistosomes. Although it has a low mortality rate, bilharzias often is a chronic illness that can damage internal organs and, in children, impair growth and cognitive development.

The disease has a long history of killing people in Upper Nile region including the recent affected areas but spread almost in every corner of southern Sudan during the war given less medical attention provided by the government in Khartoum then. An outbreak in 1988 – during the north-south war, left hundreds of people dead in Duar and Leer areas of Unity state, Mr. Marial explained.

With help of MSF—Holland operating in greater Fangak, South Sudan and Jonglei state governments, co-ordinations to send sufficient drugs and relief services are underway.

(ST)

11 Comments

  • Dinka Dominated SPLA
    Dinka Dominated SPLA

    Bilharzias hit Jonglei
    This outbreak is due for lack of clean water but the govenment must take a good step to deal with it in a manner ways

    Reply
  • maumau
    maumau

    Bilharzias hit Sudan’s Jonglei
    Mr. Phillip Thon,
    Bilharzias can not kill people within days like malaria boes.Youy article says the disease has increased in the last two weeks with unknown deaths and at least 150 people hospitalized, what a joke!. Bilharzias is a worm and it takes time to inflict pains on victims, it is not malaria. You people of Jonglei may be intending to spread the rumor in order to draw the attention of medical experts get medicines flowing in your state like that of Ebola in Bahr El Ghazel. If that is the trick, then shame on you and remember you are calling for more diseases to struck your state.

    PREVENTION OF BILHARZIAS

    •Use toilets and wash hands after use

    •Avoid body contact with stagnant water

    •Kill all snails in Jonglei state

    •Avoid public spitting, something common in Dinka culture

    •Stay indoor after rain until the earth surface dries up

    •Use gum boots to walk during rainy seasons

    •Create public awareness and campaign on bilharzias

    •Avoid eating rats, white ants and some reptiles

    •Do not catch and eat fish from swampy waters

    •Carry out medical examinations on all residents of Jonglei and treat those carrying the worms in their bodies.

    •Avoid kissing and hugging, very dangerous in spreading bilharzias

    Reply
  • Critic_Ngueny
    Critic_Ngueny

    Bilharzias hit Sudan’s Jonglei
    Dear Aparana,(money minded)

    A fool talks like a fool but a wise person has to think twice.

    Critic_Ngueny from Bor town

    Reply
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