A hepatitis outbreak has so far infected at least 36 people in Yida refugee camp in South Sudan’s Unity State, according to a reliable medical source.  Radio Tamazuj learned that of these 36 people, 14 have been diagnosed with hepatitis fever this week.

There have been calls for South Sudan’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the outbreak of this disease and urgently provide the citizens with vaccines in order to minimize the rate of new infections.

The source acknowledged that 22 had been previously diagnosed while 7 are known to have died as a result of the condition.  Health authorities in the area have apparently collected about 89 samples so far although some have been sent to the national Ministry of Health in Juba for further tests.

Camp authorities urged the relevant bodies to increase efforts and request international assistance in order to provide vaccines.  This, they claim, would enable local authorities to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

Photo by Radio Tamazuj: Refugees from the Nuba Mountains rest after arriving at Yida camp, 13 November 2012