The infestation, reported in multiple counties across the state, has left many residents suffering from severe itching and skin rashes after coming into contact with the insects. Local authorities are also investigating unverified reports linking the outbreak to deaths in one community.
Speaking to this outlet on Tuesday, the state’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Environment, Garang Chan Atak, said the outbreak has become a major concern for both farmers and government officials.
According to Atak, farmers have reported increasing encounters with the caterpillars while tending their fields, particularly during the ongoing weeding season. Many have complained of painful skin irritation after the insects landed on or crawled across their bodies.
“We have been receiving reports from farmers being seriously affected by the caterpillar outbreak in many farms and communities across Northern Bahr el Ghazal State,” Atak said. “No county appears to be safe from the infestation, and we have also received rumours of deaths that are yet to be verified.”
The minister noted that beyond the immediate health effects, farmers fear the outbreak could threaten agricultural production if the insects begin feeding on crops, drawing comparisons with previous armyworm invasions that caused significant losses.
“The reason we are worried is that farmers are increasingly disturbed by the possible consequences of this outbreak,” he explained. “There are concerns that crops could also be affected, which would have serious implications for food production.”
Authorities are particularly concerned about reports emerging from Aweil East County, where a woman and her young child are alleged to have died after developing severe reactions linked to contact with the caterpillars.
“It remains to be confirmed whether the reports we have been hearing are true—that a woman and her young child died as a result of the caterpillar’s poisonous effects,” Atak said.
Health officials say cases of skin irritation linked to the infestation are already being recorded in health facilities across the state.
Luka Lual Aleu Jok, the Health Education Focal Point in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State, said medical personnel have received numerous patients complaining of intense itching and rashes after exposure to the insects.
“We have been receiving many people suffering from rashes, and the itching is severe,” Jok told this outlet on Wednesday morning. “At the moment, there is no specific treatment or medicine that has been identified for this particular outbreak. We are consulting with our partners to determine what can be done.”
In response to the growing concerns, the Ministry of Agriculture, working alongside the Ministry of Health and humanitarian partners, has launched preliminary investigations into the infestation. Officials have collected specimens of the caterpillar for laboratory analysis in an effort to identify the species and determine appropriate control measures.
Atak said the findings of the laboratory tests will help authorities assess the threat posed by the insects and guide efforts to contain the outbreak before it causes further harm to residents or agricultural activities.
Meanwhile, many residents remain hopeful that the onset of heavier rains will help reduce the caterpillar population. However, complaints of persistent itching and discomfort continue to emerge from communities across the state as authorities race to understand the scale of the problem.
With the infestation now reported in most parts of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, state officials are urging residents to exercise caution while working in farms and to seek medical attention if they develop severe skin reactions following contact with the caterpillars.
