Sudanese Resort to “Traditional Remedies” to Stop Dengue Fever Bleeding

Several Sudanese states are witnessing a worrying health situation amid a massive outbreak of dengue fever, with rising infections and deaths, at a time when hospitals and medical centers face limited capacity to respond to emergencies of this scale. The lack of medicines and intravenous fluids has driven many patients to turn to old folk remedies to treat the epidemic.

The disease began spreading weeks ago in Sudan’s capital, which has been hit hard by the outbreak. Hospitals and isolation centers were overwhelmed, exhausting the health system as the fever spread widely across Khartoum’s three cities: Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri.

Before the authorities could contain the outbreak in Khartoum State, dengue fever was soon detected in five other states, led by Khartoum, Al Jazirah, White Nile, Kassala, and Blue Nile, according to reports from the Federal Ministry of Health.

Rapid Spread

According to the Sudanese Ministry of Health, Khartoum State alone recorded more than 14,012 dengue fever cases and four deaths.

The Federal Emergency Center of the Ministry of Health reported more than 5,000 cumulative cases of dengue nationwide. Meanwhile, medical sources from Khartoum’s Emergency Room warned of the rapid spread of both dengue fever and malaria in 17 of Sudan’s 18 states, amid severe shortages of medicine, soaring prices, and the weakened capacity of the health system.

The sources pointed to the potentially grave consequences of the deteriorating health situation if no urgent and effective intervention takes place. They called for scaling up spraying campaigns, distributing mosquito nets, and providing medical supplies immediately.

Pumpkin Remedy

Al-Raih Abbas, a resident of Wad Madani in Al Jazirah State, said, “The city is witnessing a terrifying outbreak of dengue fever amid the collapse of health care and shortages of medicines, especially intravenous fluids, paracetamol, and vitamin C.” He added, “Essential drugs for treating seasonal diseases have completely run out, while dengue fever is spreading so widely that almost every household has been affected.”

Abbas noted that some patients resorted to pumpkin and banana as treatment alternatives to IV fluids, after such recipes circulated widely among Sudanese on social media as remedies that “proved highly effective” and contributed to the recovery of hundreds of patients.

He revealed that pumpkin prices have soared due to rising demand, with vendors selling it in small slices, and at times it disappears completely from vegetable and fruit markets.

Black Market for Medicine

Meanwhile, Sudan’s black market for medicine flourished amid the fever outbreaks in Khartoum and other states, owing to the lack of government oversight.

Mervat Al-Tahir, a pharmacist in Omdurman, said, “The medicine crisis affects both citizens and pharmacists. Patients are suffering greatly in their search for drugs as prices rise daily, and pharmacists, too, struggle to provide them due to the shutdown of pharmaceutical factories and the failure of medical supply chains, despite the widespread outbreak of diseases and epidemics.”

She added, “Pharmacies are trying as much as possible to secure medicines for customers, even at high costs, because patients simply need treatment. But there is now a huge shortage of essential medicines for seasonal diseases, especially dengue fever, such as IV fluids, paracetamol, and vitamin C.”

Al-Tahir continued, “I never imagined that Sudan would face a black market for medicines until I stumbled upon a store in Omdurman selling IV fluids and paracetamol at double their official prices.”

Mosquito Density

Sudanese Health Minister Haitham Mohammed Ibrahim said, “Dengue fever is present in 17 states, with a high spread of the mosquito vector, especially in Khartoum, where its presence has exceeded 60 percent in some areas, while 5 percent of sites require immediate and urgent intervention.”

He noted that the ministry faces problems such as debris, stagnant water, and abandoned houses harboring dengue mosquitoes. “We are monitoring the epidemic curve and infection rates, but we urgently need a large campaign involving citizens.”

Ibrahim denied a shortage of medicines, saying, “Even in the states, the situation is being reviewed. The National Medical Supplies Fund has provided large quantities of IV fluids, and the World Health Organization is also providing support across all regions. There is no shortage of paracetamol or IV fluids.”

He added, “For vector-control campaigns, we currently have 35 operational spraying machines, but the rest are out of service. We actually need 150 to 200 machines to conduct simultaneous spraying across Khartoum. As for aerial spraying, it is carried out quickly but is not effective as a strategy. The fastest way to eradicate mosquitoes is by targeting larvae in households, which requires thorough inspections and broad citizen participation.”

The health minister also noted that reduced international aid has hampered Sudan’s ability to combat such outbreaks, explaining that the cost of tackling the simultaneous epidemics has reached around 39 million US dollars.

Alternative Remedies

Amid rising dengue infections in Khartoum State, home remedies shared on social media have gained popularity, with many families reporting positive results.

Merghani Othman Dafallah Al-Qadi, a professor of pharmacological sciences at several Sudanese and Arab universities, presented a traditional treatment based on prophetic medicine that uses pumpkin as the main ingredient to ease dengue symptoms.

He explained that “the recipe has been practically tested in hospitals and contributed to the recovery of more than 70 dengue patients, which highlights the importance of considering this remedy as a complementary traditional treatment option.”

He described the preparation method: “First, the pumpkin is cut into small cubes to be easily blended, then two tablespoons of baobab powder are added. The mixture is blended thoroughly without straining to preserve the fibers, which have therapeutic benefits.”

According to Al-Qadi, “The treatment showed rapid improvements in dengue markers, raised platelet counts, boosted immunity, increased hemoglobin, and reduced joint pain and gastric inflammation.”

Escalating Crisis

Mohamed Al-Naeem, who returned to East Nile in Khartoum, said, “In almost every home, at least three people are sick with dengue fever, especially with the favorable conditions for disease spread—floods, rains, mosquitoes, and malnutrition—creating a troubling and distressing health situation.”

He confirmed that the lack of medicines, particularly IV fluids and painkillers, has worsened patients’ suffering, leading to several deaths. “Many citizens are now desperate, fearing constant pain, disease, and the possibility of death at any moment.”

Al-Naeem added, “Patients may endure the pain and the absence of medical staff, but medicines are essential for recovery. If the current situation persists, mortality rates will rise to unprecedented levels.”

Dangerous Complications

Epidemiologist Dr. Abu Al-Qasim Al-Dali explained that “dengue fever can become fatal due to complications such as fluid accumulation, shortness of breath, and organ failure. Warning signs appear about a week after initial symptoms.”

He added that the virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and infected patients can spread the virus to others for up to five days after symptoms appear.

Al-Dali also warned that “pregnant women with dengue fever may pass the virus to their child during birth. Infants face risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight, or fetal distress.”