AlHijjah 24, 1433, Nov 9, 2012, SPA -- The United Nations said an outbreak of hepatitis E has killed 26 refugees in South Sudanese camps, and is likely to grow with an influx of more people arriving at the camps from neighboring Sudan, AP reported. U.N. refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards said the camps have been hit by 1,050 cases of hepatitis E, a life-threatening disease that attacks the liver and is spread through contaminated food and water. Edwards told reporters Friday that 26 refugees have died in camps in Upper Nile state, where thousands of new refugees fleeing fighting between rebels and the Sudanese government are expected in the next few weeks. He said the the disease is endemic in Upper Nile and Unity states, where 175,000 Sudanese refugees have settled, with the risk of infection high in camps.
