At least six people have died from hepatitis E and over 500 cases have been registered since the beginning of September, Western Bahr el-Ghazal State Health, Dr Francis Michael, said.
The Minister told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the State had been put on high alert over the increasing infections.
Dr Michael disclosed that he had on Tuesday convened an emergency meeting with the health cluster ministries and partners to setup a response taskforce to control the disease.
“Today we have convened an emergency meeting focusing on the emergence of the hepatitis E. We currently have six death cases, having registered 27 cases in September, putting the total at 500,” he said.
“We today convened a meeting with our partners, pertinent ministries and other health institutions so that we can set up measures on the control of the alarming hepatitis E in the state,” he added.
“Our meeting,” the Minister went on, “came up with a taskforce to control the spread of hepatitis E.”
The Minister warned the local residents against consuming water from suspect sources.
“We have to guarantee that the water we are taking is clean or we should boil it before use,” he said.
The minister called on the water providers to ensure the safety of their supplies.
In 2023, hepatitis E claimed more than 20 lives in Wau town, with more than 150 cases registered within and outside the three counties of Western Bahr el-Ghazal State.