South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials - Sudan Tribune: Plural news and views on Sudan

October 21, 2009 (JUBA) – Southern Sudan health ministry said there are no evidence to support reports about Ebola outbreak in the semi autonomous region. The officials said the mysterious disease was just a rumor.

GOSS ministry of health sent a medical team to the remote village of Kitkit in western Bahr el Ghazal State where reportedly 23 people were died from a mysterious illness suspected to be Ebola.

"Our team went there and they did not find any cases ... They did not find any deaths as was reported ... They concluded there was no Ebola," said Atem Nathan the ministry official charged with investigating the outbreak.

The Southern Sudanese official told Reuters that the mission found no sign for the disease. He further said the report, which is now turned to rumor, was a cry to draw the attention of the concerned authorities on the need for medical care there.

"It is the lack of services that turns into these rumors," he said, adding that during the Sudan’s long north-south civil war, communities sometimes made up outbreaks to attract humanitarian assistance to their areas.

South Sudan’s army spokesperson said they reached the same conclusion, after investigating the case there.

"It seems that the report by both the local county administration and the SPLA command about the deaths of the 23 soldiers was something to draw attention ... to the acute lack of medicine in Raja County," said SPLA spokesman Kuol Diem Kuol.

"They have succeeded. Now medicines are being taken there." He further said.

(ST)

6 Forum messages

South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 03:27, by Malakal

Whatever it was it worked, fair enought now that medicines are being sent to where they are mostly needed.

South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 17:15, by Wiyual Wech Puk D. Payol.

Oh!! God the GOSS is now very weak in all cases.let medical doctors do their own part about disease eventhough it is remour.

South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 03:44, by maumau

The article says the mysterious disease which was reported a week ago was just a rumor, does this portray a good image of South Sudan to the eye of the international community, even after appealing to the WHO-Centre for Disease control in New York to come for rescue?. The other time another roumor said SPLA had lost all its secret security documents. This was later proved to be a roumor. Just a couple of weeks, a similar roumor said Mr. Kiir was shot dead while on his way to Juba international airport. What is wrong with South Sudan?, These roumors go beyond the border and what do you think it will make of us. A time will come when we shall be invaded by a mysterious disease and we ask for help, no body will turn up because they will assume that it is a usual roumor.

Iam an SPLM member but i do not agree with some it its policies, take forinstance all these should be investigated the victims must be accountable. GOSS doesn`t care about investigating all wrongs in the country and it is worse if the perpetrator is a Dinka, they keep quiet as if nothing has happened. South Sudan is ruined completly .

Shame on the roumor mongers.

South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 07:40, by Jupiter Maguangdit

The disease was not a rumor but there is a problem with the GOSS Ministry of Health since the year 2006. Dr. Majok Yak and now Joseph Monytuil sit in Juba, drink beer and deny the outbreak of diseases in the south making it difficult for the agencies that may come to rescue our people. This is not the first time Juba denies the disease to be a rumor, cholera was said to be a rumor in many parts of the south last year.

Shame on you.

South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 11:11, by Flora Tong

I agree with you! Ask me as I am in the middle of it. The outbreak was not investigated well by the GOSS officials. I just realized that no body care about southern citizens. We need a new government lead by people who understand like Dr. Lam Akol
- South Sudan mysterious disease was a rumor - officials 22 October 2009 16:56, by Ajongtar
  
  Ke Ke KE wotike. cheiting SUDAN Aria muk.
  
  I have said it before that what Dinka know is only to Loot the Government resources steeling cattle’s, trapping for free food from I.N.G.O’s eg. WFP and others.
  
  If it happened that there was a cattle raid at western Bg. Will this be also a rumor??
  
  So Miss Salva KIRR you need to send some body from your office to get the right outbreak as the Minister stated as an Allegations. He doesn’t care whether is through or not because he came from Nuer.
  
  Now you see, I think Lam Acool have started cooling the Dinkas hearts with the NCP property. People of WBG you need to take extra care of your self before you all get affected.
  
  God bless the innocent Villagers of Western BGS.
  
  Ajongtar 999