Hepatitis E epidemic in the northwest of the country in South Sudan has resulted in five deaths and 91 suspected cases, according to reports released on Tuesday.
The Western Bahr el-Ghazal State’s capital city of Wau is where the cases were reported. Yolanda Awel Deng, the health minister, encouraged the populace to maintain calm.
Hepatitis E is a liver infection brought on by the hepatitis virus, which can also be present in contaminated water and the faeces of infected people. Skin discoloration, stomach ache, a moderate fever, and appetite loss are among the symptoms.
Deng urged people to take all necessary precautions, including as washing their hands with soap, using latrines, and keeping their surroundings clean.
According to the health ministry, there are presently 5.5% fatal cases of the disease, with males making up 73.6% of all recorded cases.
Since 2015, there have been hepatitis E outbreaks in South Sudan as a result of the horrific living circumstances there, including poor access to water, sanitation, and hygiene.
Since 2020, South Sudan has witnessed severe flooding, which has led to a sanitation issue and disease epidemics.
According to a report released on Tuesday by the U.N. Development Program and the government’s relief and reconstruction commission, nearly a quarter of South Sudan’s population has been impacted by years of record flooding.
More than 2.6 million people in the world’s newest country have been affected by flooding for four years running.