Health officials at Mother Teresa hospital have recorded an increase in the number of tuberculosis cases in Twic County, Warrap state.
The hospital has so far diagnosed at least 157 TB patients over the last 5 months.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection spread through inhaling tiny droplets from the coughs or sneezes of an infected person. It mainly affects the lungs, but it can affect any part of the body, including the tummy (abdomen), glands, bones and nervous system.
According to Edward Lual Mayen, Lab technician at Mother Terasa Hospital, they witnessed an increase during violence between Twic and Abyei in February.
He attributed the cases to overcrowding at displaced persons camp characterized by poor hygiene and sanitation.
Last year, the hospital registered only 90 cases of TB.
“The only way to prevent the disease is by covering your mouth when coughing and also strict follow up of the treatment when given the drug. So, be mindful of your sickness,” Lual advised.
The general symptoms of TB disease include; feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats, coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood.
With treatment, TB can almost always be cured. A course of antibiotics will usually need to be taken for 6 months.