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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Thursday reported the break of Hepatitis E virus in the Sudanese region of Darfur, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.
"Our humanitarian colleagues report that an outbreak of Hepatitis E virus has been declared in Sortony, North Darfur, with 134 suspected cases of Acute Jaundice Syndrome reported," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.
"The current rainy season is likely to contribute to unsanitary conditions due to overflowing latrines and related contamination in living areas, and the outbreak may continue if the issue of overcrowding is not addressed," he said.
Humanitarian health, water and sanitation partners are working with the Ministry of Health to address the situation, he said. "Efforts aimed at containing the outbreak include strengthening health promotion-related activities and improving water quality through chlorination."
Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by infection with a virus known as hepatitis E virus (HEV).
Every year, there are an estimated 20 million HEV infections worldwide, leading to an estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases of hepatitis E, and 56,600 hepatitis E-related deaths.
Hepatitis E is usually self-limiting but some cases may develop into fulminant hepatitis (acute liver failure). The virus is transmitted via the faecal-oral route, principally via contaminated water.
