5 deaths and what is hidden is greater in Sudan.. The dengue fever epidemic preys on Sennar without mercy

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Dengue fever in Sennar State, southeastern Sudan, is no longer just an epidemic that health authorities are tracking with numbers and warnings. It is a danger that creeps into homes, threatening families' health and ability to survive, while fears are increasing about the spread of infection beyond the limits of official statistics. Five deaths in the latest health report, a state with the highest rates of infection with the disease in the country, and field sources talking about a wide spread, at a time when the cost of treating a patient may reach 400 thousand Sudanese pounds, or about 40 US dollars according to the exchange rate in the parallel market.

Thus, the residents of Sennar find themselves facing two simultaneous battles: the first with a mosquito-borne disease, and the second with a treatment bill that may exceed their family’s capacity. Between citizens' fears and the limited updated information, the most pressing question remains: How many patients have not been infected in the records, and how many families are unable to provide treatment?

The Ministry of Health in Sennar State announced, in previous statistics, the recording of 1,412 cases of dengue fever, according to the total detailed figures for the localities: 587 cases in Sinja, 523 in Sennar, 165 in East Sennar, 95 in Abu Hajar, 32 in Al-Dali and Al-Mazmum, and 10 cases in Al-Suki. The latest report of the Surveillance and Information Department of the Health Emergency Operations Center of the Federal Ministry of Health, issued on Tuesday, confirmed that Sinnar still leads the country in dengue infection rates, especially in the Sinnar and Sinjah localities, with five deaths recorded, three of which were in Sinjah and two in Sinnar.

But the field picture, according to local testimonies, appears more disturbing. Sources who spoke to Al Arabiya.net say that homes in large areas of the state are hardly devoid of at least one dengue fever patient. These statements do not represent a comprehensive survey, but they reflect the extent of concerns among the population, and raise questions about infections that may not reach health facilities or are not included in official statistics.

Field sources assert that the available official figures do not reflect, in their estimation, the scale of the current disaster, noting that the statistic of 1,412 cases dates back about three weeks, while the conditions in Sennar, Wad Hashem, and a number of villages have worsened at extremely dangerous rates. It also speaks of a lack of monitoring and investigation teams, and of additional deaths whose true numbers are not yet clear. There is no independent tally available to confirm the recording of other deaths or determine the size of the increase in infections. But the time gap between the statistics and the escalation of field concerns makes updating and verifying the numbers an urgent necessity, especially in a state that tops the announced indicators of infection with the disease.

Concerns are exacerbated amid environmental and service conditions that help mosquitoes to multiply, most notably stagnant rain water, power outages, and disturbances in water supplies that prompt residents to store it in barrels and tanks. When these containers are left uncovered or not cleaned properly, they can become breeding grounds for mosquitoes that transmit the disease.

Doctors and specialists warned of the danger of the deteriorating epidemiological situation in Sennar due to the increase in cases of dengue fever and malaria, and called for declaring a state of emergency and taking urgent measures. Medical and field sources confirm to Al Arabiya.net that monitoring and investigation capabilities do not keep pace with the scale of fears, and that hospitals and treatment centers are facing increasing pressure.

Field testimonies indicate that some health facilities are facing difficulties in accommodating patients, while the authors of these testimonies believe that spraying campaigns have not achieved a tangible effect in reducing the spread, and that federal interventions have not reached the required level. There is no independent data available to measure the pressure on facilities or determine the results of control campaigns, which makes evaluating the health response need more detailed information.

Patients' distress does not end when symptoms appear; Obtaining diagnosis and treatment can become a severe obstacle for low-income families. According to field testimonies reported by medical and field sources who spoke to Al Arabiya.net, the cost of testing for dengue fever is about 40,000 Sudanese pounds, compared to about 9,000 pounds for testing for malaria, while the cost of treatment may reach 400,000 pounds, with prices varying from one region to another.

Sources say that some citizens are resorting to less expensive malaria testing to reduce expenses, amid fears of delayed diagnosis of some cases. However, malaria testing does not diagnose dengue fever, and identifying the disease remains dependent on medical evaluation and appropriate tests.

One citizen told Al Arabiya.net that the inability to bear the costs of treatment could put the patient's life at risk, while another summed up the distress of the situation by saying: "Basic needs have become a kind of luxury."

In light of the pressures of living, a family may find itself forced to make a choice between food and medicine, especially if symptoms appear in more than one member. As the cost of tests and treatment rises, poverty becomes an additional factor in complicating the crisis, as some patients may delay seeking care or push them to choose options that do not replace the correct medical diagnosis.

Local residents are calling for the provision of intravenous treatment solutions, known locally as "Al-Derbat", at nominal prices, the intensification of spraying campaigns, the removal of mosquito breeding sites, and the sending of field teams to visit homes and monitor infections. There is also a need to expand the capacity of health facilities and ensure the availability of tests and medicines at prices that citizens can afford.

The Federal Ministry of Health had discussed the report of the technical support team’s visit to Sennar and the Blue Nile Region. But in the face of fears of this magnitude, the success of the response is not measured by meetings alone, but rather by the extent to which medical teams, examinations and treatment reach the most affected areas, and the ability of control campaigns to reduce the spread of mosquitoes.

Field sources say that Sennar, Wad Hashem and a number of villages need broader interventions, including strengthening surveillance and investigation teams and intensifying awareness and control within neighborhoods and homes. However, assessing the adequacy of these interventions requires clear data on the size of teams deployed, the scope of spraying campaigns, and the number of facilities receiving support.

In Sinar, three indicators come together that cannot be ignored: the state issues announced infection rates, five deaths were recorded in Sinja and Sinar, and local reports speak of a widespread spread of the disease within homes. These indicators do not alone prove that the real toll is greater than the official numbers, but they require urgent action to verify the extent of the spread.

How many infections have there been since the last statistics? Did monitoring teams reach the most affected areas and villages? Were there other deaths recorded that did not appear in the published toll? These questions cannot be answered by guesswork or residents’ fears alone, but rather with an extensive field investigation and updated data detailing infections and deaths by locality and time periods.

Meanwhile, residents face an epidemic they fear, tests and treatment they may not be able to afford, and health facilities that are under increasing pressure. The danger lies not only in the number of reported infections, but also in the possibility of patients delaying seeking care, and the spread of infection, while the available information remains insufficient to draw a complete picture.

Sennar does not need new warnings as much as it needs a clear disclosure of the extent of the crisis, provision of treatment at affordable prices, intensification of mosquito control, and support of health facilities in proportion to needs. When a state has the highest infection rates in the country, deaths are recorded, and local sources talk about widespread spread, delaying monitoring and responding becomes an intolerable risk to the residents’ lives.