An outbreak of Hepatitis E, in South Sudan, has led to 107 deaths since July.

The disease, which has mostly hit refugee camps, is said to be on the rise in the country forcing the authorities to request the support from the international community to help eliminate it.

Hepatitis E, is a virus that attacks the liver. It is mainly transmitted through contaminated water, putting those living in informal settlements without proper sanitation most at risk.

The national ministry of health appealed to donors and United Nations agencies to provide technical and financial support to curb the increasing number of cases of Hepatitis E.

The endemic is reportedly most serious in the camps in Maban County, host to over 110,000 refugees fleeing fighting in Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan states in Sudan.

The independent medical humanitarian organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, say it has treated 3,991 patients in its health facilities in the camps and has recorded 88 deaths, including 15 pregnant women since June 2012.

South Sudan's minister of health, Dr. Milly Hussein, said during an interview that "there are 4,870 confirmed cases of Hepatitis E in the camps."

"So far 107 others have died of the disease. We are doing all we can to fight the disease and save the lives of our people."

A year and a half after the country gained independence from its northern neighbour, Sudan, South Sudan still suffers from a lack of health professionals and facilities.

According to the Government of South Sudan there are 1.5 doctors and 2 nurses for every 100,000 citizens.

Humanitarian agencies operating in the camps said efforts are being exerted to control the situation and prevent further spread of the disease.

There are 20 million incidences of hepatitis E annually and 70 000 hepatitis E-related deaths.

Though cases are reported worldwide prevalence is highest in East and South Asia, according to the World Health Organisation.