The local authorities in Gogrial East County in Warrap State on Friday said one person died after being bitten by a snake in Pinydit Payam on Wednesday and that five other people from different payams are admitted to health facilities due to snakebites.
Deng Mabuoch Deng, the director of the Gogrial East County health department, told Radio Tamazuj Friday that flooding was responsible for the rise in snakebite cases and other waterborne diseases.
“Pinydit health facility has registered one death and Luony- Aker has recorded three cases of snakebites while Pathuon East reported two cases and Mayen Chol of Toch North Payam has also reported 1 case,” he said.
Mabuoch said the county ran out of antivenom (antivenins) last year.
“We ran out of antivenins last year, and since then and the state has not provided them in the county,” he said. “The health situation is worse due to flooding, which has affected all six payams in the county.”
Meanwhile, Manut Yel, the Luony-Aker Payam administrator, said seven people were bitten by snakes, but none of them had died.
“Seven people were bitten by snakes in the payams, including Luony Aker, which reported three cases, but no one has died,” he said. The Payam is affected by flooding, and the sesame, groundnuts and sorghum (Dura) crops are affected, which means people will starve next year.”
Ayiei Barnabas Bak, Relief and Rehabilitation Commission county coordinator, said floods had divested Gogrial East County and that over 12,000 households have been displaced.
“Gogrial East is really devastated by floods, and 12, 585 households, the equivalent of 75, 510 individuals, are displaced and most of them are sheltering in schools,” he said.