- An outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever has claimed the lives of 96 of the infected 329 reported cases in Sudan.
Officials of both Sudanese health ministry and the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the registration of suspected cases in White Nile, Sannar and Jazeera states. Few cases have also been registered in the capital Khartoum.
The fever’s current death rate stands at 29%, with Jazeera state accounting for half of all the cases.
The deadly fever is transmitted through contact with contaminated animal blood or bites from infected mosquitoes. The fever can lead to meningoencephalitis and internal haemorrhaging capable of killing half of its suspects. Its incubation period ranges between two and six days.
As many Sudanese depend on livestock for survival, an outbreak among cattle can be catastrophic. Sudanese Khartoum authorities allayed fears of the presence of the disease among cattle.
But an animal health expert has been sent by the Food Agricultural Organisation to help avert the spread of the outbreak among livestock.
A joint public information and mobilisation campaign warning Sudanese to be wary of the disease's risks and measures to contain its spread was launched by the Sudanese government and WHO.
An outbreak of the disease claimed more than 150 lives in Kenya last January.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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