Diseases of Sudan

In Sudan, the biggest killers are malaria, malnutrition,
diarrhea and respiratory infections.

Malaria:  Four strains are carried by mosquitoes, can be prevented
by reducing mosquito populations and sleeping with mosquito nets,
can be treated if appropriate medicine is available
 
Other common illnesses are AIDS, whooping cough, cerebral meningitis and measles.

Exotic diseases include:

Guinea Worm Disease:  Contracted from drinking water contaminated with fleas carrying infected larvae which mature into worms 3 to 5 feet in length emerging through skin creating a painful blister
and requiring up to 2 months to be completely removed,
84% of cases are found in Sudan

River Blindness:  Spread by bite of black flies
infected with parasitic worm

Trachoma:  World's leading cause of preventable blindness,
affects mostly women and children, bacteria causes inflammation
of eyelids, scarring contracts eyelid turning eyelashes inward,
damaging cornea causing blindness, person unable to attend school
or work resulting in loss of productivity and impacting family welfare

Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever:  Caused by virus, very deadly, no cure

Sleeping Sickness:  Contracted by bite of tse tse fly,
death inevitable if not treated

Nodding Syndrome:  Mysterious illness causing retardation
and often death