Three Deaths and Fifteen Infections from Diphtheria in Eastern Khartoum

The Preparatory Committee of the Sudan Doctors’ Syndicate has reported an increase in diphtheria cases to 15, including three deaths among children in Al-Jeraif area, east of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, within a week.

Diphtheria symptoms include severe throat inflammation, difficulty swallowing, high fever, fatigue, the appearance of a gray or white membrane on the throat or tonsils, neck swelling, and breathing difficulties. If untreated, the bacteria may spread to the bloodstream, causing coma and death.

Dr. Adeeba Ibrahim Al-Sayid, an internist and epidemiologist, and member of the Omdurman branch of the committee, told Sudan Tribune that 15 cases of diphtheria — including three deaths — were detected in Al-Jeraif area during the past week.

She explained that the disease spreads through coughing or sneezing from an infected person, contact with the patient’s secretions or personal items such as cups, spoons, or towels, as well as through contact with infected skin lesions in cutaneous cases.

Dr. Adeeba urged families to vaccinate their children against diphtheria as part of the regular childhood immunization program, maintain hand and personal hygiene, and avoid crowded places in case of symptoms or suspected infections.

She also called on families to take any child showing symptoms to the nearest health center or hospital and isolate the patient to prevent further transmission.

Finally, she appealed to the Ministry of Health to raise public awareness and announce reported cases to contain the spread of the disease, urging all international health organizations to intervene urgently to save Sudanese children from death.