Bad hygiene has led to an epidemic of hepatitis B that has killed three people over the last two weeks in Yei River State, a local official said.

Hepatitis B is an infection of liver. It can cause scarring of the organ and liver failure. It can be fatal if it isn't treated.

Yei’s minister of health Manase Kabwa told Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday that cases of hepatitis B have increased; pointing out that the hospital had recorded the cases.

Separately, the minister said his state government stepped up surveillance at the common border following reports of Ebola virus infections in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).