The Sudanese Doctors Syndicate has sounded the alarm after fifteen diphtheria cases, including three child deaths, were recorded in Al-Jereif, east of Khartoum, within a week. The preparatory committee of the syndicate confirmed the outbreak, warning that the disease’s spread reflects the worsening state of Sudan’s collapsing health system.
Dr. Adiba Ibrahim Al-Sayed, an internal medicine and epidemiology specialist told that the cases were detected amid deteriorating sanitation and overcrowding. The official said diphtheria spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with contaminated objects such as utensils or towels.
She urged families to ensure children receive vaccinations that are part of routine immunisation programmes. “Prevention begins with vaccination and hygiene,” she said, calling on parents to seek immediate medical help if symptoms appear.
The disease manifests through a severe sore throat, fever, and a gray or white membrane on the tonsils, often leading to breathing difficulties and swelling of the neck. Without timely treatment, the infection can enter the bloodstream, causing coma or death. Health experts warn that the combination of war, displacement, and the breakdown of Sudan’s medical infrastructure has created a fertile ground for outbreaks of preventable diseases.
The Ministry of Health has appealed for urgent international assistance, urging health organisations to intervene before the outbreak spreads further. It called on communities to report suspected cases and strengthen local awareness campaigns to curb transmission.
