S. Sudan disease kills 31; treatment impeded

	Tweet

A deadly tropical disease has killed 31 people since June and infected 118 others in south Sudan, with tribal clashes and heavy rains hindering treatment, a government health official said on Monday.

The outbreak of the parasitic kala azar disease, also known as leishmaniasis, occurred in Ayod County in the east of the semi-autonomous region, where analysts fear a January vote on independence could fuel violence and disrupt medical services.

“Some patients have to walk between eight and 10 hours for treatment. But insecurity after tribal clashes have made people afraid to make the journey,” said Mounir Lugga, the health ministry’s director of tropical endemic diseases.

"The reason for the deaths is the delay in treatment and it has worsened with the rainy season - people cannot come from the villages, roads get very bad,” he said.

“We have the drugs they need, the only problem is access.”

Conflicts among tribes in the south, often fought over cattle and ethnic rivalries, have intensified with the prevalence of weapons since a 2005 deal ended a two-decade long civil war in Sudan that claimed 2 million lives.

The disease, caused by a parasite transmitted through sand fly bites, is almost always fatal if untreated and can kill those with weak immune systems within weeks, but 95 percent will survive with timely treatment, aid agencies say. Symptoms include an enlarged spleen, fever, weakness and wasting.

---
JUBA, Sudan (Reuters)

RELATED STORIES:
You’re Born a Copy but Die an Original   Post-Attack Vaccine Plus Antibiotics Best Against Anthrax Release   How bad is childhood obesity in the United States?   Calif. bill seeks return on stem cell research   Catholic leader doubts UK’s Blair over abortion   Pediatricians call for stricter laws for chemicals   CJ’s Place Provides Safe Housing For People With Mental Illness   Contact lenses are home to pathogenic amoebae   Research examines gender gaps in immigrant health   Saint Louis University hunt for a Hepatitis C vaccine   Seven-billionth human marks demographic change: expert   Nuclear medicine can trigger security alarms: study

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]