Yolanda Awel Deng, Minister of Health - Courtesy

The national Minister of Health has dispatched a medical team to the Boma area of Greater Pibor following reported cases of an unknown disease.

Minister Yolanda Awel says the cases were reported from Jebel Boma in Mawo Payam in the Greater Pibor Administrative area.

According to her, there were no medical personnel in the remote village that was surrounded by mountains.

The health official says she had earlier dispatched a team of local authorities to the area.

Meanwhile, a medical team has been airlifted from Juba to the disease area to collect samples from the ailing persons for laboratory investigation.

“For the developing situation that is going on in Jebel Boma in the Pibor Administrative area in a payam called Mayuon, we have some suspected cases in that area,” said Yolanda.

“My team is unable to reach Jebel Boma but right now I do not have a team of doctors on the ground because there is no way to get them on the ground,” she said.

“My team has been airlifted from Juba to Bor area and then they are going to be airlifted from Bor to Pibor town which is Boma but now they need also be airlifted from Boma to Jebel Boma, Jebel Boma is mountainous.”

“I have sent local authorities but local authorities are not trained  doctors so I need to send trained doctors to be able to know  what symptoms they are dealing with.”

The World Food Program of the United Nations is facilitating the trip.