Map of Eastern Equatoria State. | Courtesy

Authorities at Torit State Hospital have reported a mysterious illness that has killed one schoolgirl and left over 20 other girls hospitalized in the facility with hallucinations.

Dr. Mustapha Lokuru who is the Medical Director of Torit State Hospital says the facility received over twenty pupils aged between 7 and 22 years Mura-Hatiha village.

One has reportedly succumbed to the health condition.

According to Dr Lokuru, the first three cases were reported on 4 October 2023, but the number increased to 21 as of Monday, October 9, 2023.

“This issue started on the 4^th of this month of which 3 ladies were brought to the hospital from Mura-Hatiha and they are all pupils and they are all girls,” Dr Lokuru said.

“We did our routine investigation but within 3 hours again, we were called and another 4 were on the road coming, the total before yesterday [October 9] was 21 and they were all girls,” he said.

“Most of them are talking of, they have seen big pythons, they are not human beings but the way they describe them is catastrophic even fearful. ”

“They are trying to talk to them that, come we go together. So, the way they are attracting and approaching them, you cannot even describe. This is how they feel, and they cry.”

“When they are even in the ward if one of them cries, then the rest will respond immediately once which was terrible but at least we managed to separate them”.

Dr Mustapha Lokuru says they have sent three samples to Juba to ascertain the cause of the disturbing illness.

But he says some of the children are recovering after they were treated for the symptoms.

“Most of these pupils actually are recovering. So, the age range is between 7 years to 22 years and this is the older one,” Dr Lokuru said.

“The number actually increased to 21 cases including the one who passed away. So, there was actually an improvement, we also treated,” he said.

“Samples were brought to Juba for the public lab. We are actually targeting meningitis or anything else, then they can go further also at the lab”.