The situation in Aweil East County, Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State, has returned to normal following the deaths of 13 people from a mysterious illness in Adut Adhot Village in August. Local authorities and residents have confirmed that calm has been restored, though the cause of the deadly infection remains under investigation.
Following the outbreak in Warguet Payam, the State Ministry of Health collected samples and sent them to Juba for analysis. However, the results of the investigation have been delayed, leaving the cause of the illness still unknown. Despite the lack of clarity, local leaders have assured residents that there is no immediate cause for concern.
Aweil East County Commissioner Diing Aher Ngong, speaking to local Radio, acknowledged the delay in the results but confirmed that the situation had stabilized. He noted that those who had fled their homes in fear of the unknown disease had since returned.
“The results from Juba have not yet been released, and it could take weeks or even months,” said Ngong. “But the situation is now calm, and the residents who had left due to the outbreak have come back to their homes.”
Similarly, Diing Majok, another local leader, shared that the people of Adut Adhot Village were healthy and resuming normal activities. He recalled how the outbreak had caused significant fear and displacement in the village, even leading to the closure of a major road.
“The situation is stable now, and movement has resumed. People are using the main road again, even passing by homes where the deaths occurred,” Majok explained.
Dut Deng, a resident of the village, added that while some individuals still expressed fears of the unknown disease, most had returned to their normal routines.
“A few people are still a bit panicked, but life has mostly returned to normal. Residents are back in their homes,” Deng stated.
The authorities continue to wait for the results from Juba to determine the cause of the infection and the necessary measures to prevent future outbreaks.