Residents of Damazin and Roseires localities in Sudan’s Blue Nile region have reported an increase in cases of dengue fever and malaria amid continued rainfall, stagnant water and shortages of medicines.
Mohamed Ibrahim, a resident of Damazin, told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that dengue fever and malaria cases had increased in recent days despite mosquito-control campaigns previously conducted by authorities.
Several members of his family had contracted the diseases, he said, adding that some medicines and intravenous fluids are difficult to find and have become increasingly expensive.
Residents of Taiba Al-Balilab village in Roseires locality have also reported cases of dengue fever, raising concerns about further spread as the rainy season continues and stagnant water accumulates.
Maha Awad, a resident of the area, said access to healthcare had become increasingly difficult because of high medicine prices and inadequate supplies.
In July, Dr Bilal Al-Daw Gujja, director of the General Administration for Emergencies and Epidemic Control in Blue Nile, said 681 dengue cases had been confirmed in Damazin, with more than 600 suspected cases recorded since June.
A medical source said at the time that some health facilities were overcrowded, while the cost of medical tests had increased and some medicines were in short supply.
Authorities had carried out mosquito-control measures, including removing breeding sites and spraying insecticides in affected areas of Damazin. The campaign was later expanded to Roseires.
A civil society activist said dengue cases had increased in Damazin and Roseires and called on health authorities to intensify mosquito-control measures, including renewed spraying campaigns.
Local sources also reported in July that dengue fever and malaria were spreading, particularly among displaced people, amid complaints about shortages and rising medicine prices.
The Damazin Resistance Committees previously warned of a wider spread of dengue fever and reported cases and deaths. The figures were not confirmed by the Ministry of Health and have therefore not been treated as official statistics.
The latest concerns come as the rainy season continues and humanitarian needs increase in areas hosting people displaced by the conflict. Earlier this month, the Humanitarian Aid Commission in Blue Nile said the region had 12 main displacement camps, most of them in Damazin and Roseires.
Continued rainfall, stagnant water, mosquito exposure, overcrowding and limited health services are increasing concerns about the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.
Radio Tamazuj was unable to obtain comment from the Blue Nile Ministry of Health on the latest reports or the number of dengue and malaria cases recorded so far.
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