A number of Blue Nile refugees from Doro and Jammam camps in South Sudan's Upper Nile have complained of an increase in yellow fever cases among the refugees.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, refugees said the disease appeared in early November, and has caused many deaths. They added that patients have been visiting health centres for treatment, but the drugs given have not been effective in treating the symptoms of the disease.

According to these sources, two to three people are dying each day due to yellow fever. They claim that the health centers in the area are inadequate and ill-equipped, and as a result patients are resorting into the use of traditional treatments. Refugees fear this disease spreading to other refugee camps in the area, and have called upon NGOs and health authorities to treat the symptoms of the disease and limit its contagion.

Cases of yellow fever - transmitted by infected mosquitos - were reported earlier this year in South Sudan when the disease spread from Darfur to Raja in South Sudan’s north-west.

UN Photo: The father of a patient infected with yellow fever in El Geneina, West Darfur, 14 November 2012