The World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Sudan reportedly warned Tuesday of a "high risk of biological hazard" after one of the sides fighting in the conflict seized a central public laboratory with samples of measles and polio, creating an "extremely, extremely dangerous" situation.
Dr. Nima Saeed Abid, assigned to the post of WHO representative in Sudan, effective Aug. 4, 2020, addressed reporters in Geneva, Switzerland, via video link.
"There is a huge biological risk associated with the occupation of the central public health lab... by one of the fighting parties," Abid said, as Agence France-Presse reported.
Abid added on the call that at least 459 people had been killed in fighting in Sudan and 4,072 injured, Reuters reported.