The Ministry of Health sent out a press release informing the general public of a cholera outbreak in parts of Kampala city. Contaminated water and the lack of toilets have been cited as the cause of the outbreak.

Press Release – Cholera in Kampala by Emma Laura Kisa on Scribd

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Virus structure

The Ministry of health has confirmed the outbreak of Rift valley fever in Kabale western Uganda. The new reports in the Ministry of health given to the media at the media centre today by the Director General of health services Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng  show that there are three new suspected cases identified and their blood samples are yet to be tested. The first confirmed case is 45-year old butcher from Kabale town council. The patient reported to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital on March 4th 2016 and was later referred to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for a Blood transfusion. He is currently admitted in an isolation ward at Mbarara RRH but improving steadily. The second confirmed case is of a 19-year-old student from Kabale town who had contact with livestock and other domestic animals at their family home.

Dr. Aceng says that no deaths have been reported since the outbreak of this fever on 4th March this year. The newest three cases recorded as of 15th March  include a 75 year old man from Rubaya subcounty in Kabale district, an 11 year old boy from Bugongi in Kabale town while the third suspect is currently admitted  at Rugarama hospital in Kabale district  and she added that their test results will be out by Friday this week.

She says that this  disease has never been reported in humans and animals in Uganda before this outbreak. Noted that a  Multi-sectoral National Task Force has been set up to coordinate all efforts towards the control and management of the outbreak under the One Health Approach. This task force is composed of  officials from the Ministries of; Health; Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; Water and Environment; Uganda Wildlife Authority together with development partners; the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and other implementing agencies.

The ministry of health says that a multi sectoral rapid response team of experts has been dispatched to the district to support both clinical and public health investigations. The Ministry of Agriculture is undertaking a detailed investigation to confirm the virus. Rift Valley Fever is an acute fever-causing viral disease that affects domestic animals (such as cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo, camels) and humans. People who become ill usually experience fever, generalised weakness, back pain, dizziness and weight loss at the onset of the illness and typically patients recover within two days to one week after onset of the illness.

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The outbreak has so far killed six people and affected 11 others in the district.

The victims bleed from their noses and mouth and they feel as though something is walking in the insides of their bodies.

The ministry’s public relations officer Rukia Nakamatte says they have taken blood samples to find out what the disease is.

Nakamatte says after figuring out the cause of the disease they will find a possible solution to save the infected and non-infected.

The outbreak comes after the country was recently declared Ebola free.

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According to the permanent secretary ministry of health Asuman Lukwago the ministry has got all it takes to contain the disease after containing Ebola which has similar control mechanism.

He says that they have already isolated the victim to avoid body contacts with the patients of Marburg. Lukwago says that after noticing the outbreak of Marburg disease in the country the ministry took the initiatives to alert all the medical workers to ensure that they disease is handled.

Lukwago confirmed the deaths of five people, two are confirmed and one is being suspected. He however noted that the ministry is monitoring 40 people who are suspected to have contacted with the dead.

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Dr Sheila Ndyanabangi, the principal medical officer mental health is said to have had contact with a patient in Mulago and she is currently in isolation.

The ministry’s public Relations officer Rukia Nakamatte says Dr Ndyanabangi has been advised to avoid public gatherings and direct contact with other people.

The ministry is calling for more vigilance from the public following the outbreak last week of the highly contagious Marburg virus.

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This follows laboratory tests done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) which confirmed three samples positive of the highly infectious viral hemorrhagic fever.

The director general health services Dr Jane Aceng say Preliminary reports from the district indicate that four other people had allegedly died of a strange disease since October 4^th.

Investigations indicate that all the cases occurred among members of the same family in Kiyonjo parish in Kitumba sub-county.

Marburg is a killer disease caused by a virus and is spread through direct contact with wounds, body fluids like blood, saliva, vomitus, stool and urine of an infected person.

A person suffering from Marburg presents with sudden onset of high fever with any of the following; headache, vomiting blood, joint and muscle pains and bleeding through the body openings, i.e. eyes, nose, gums, ears, anus and the skin.

Marburg is a highly contagious disease and kills in a short time but can easily be prevented.

Dr Aceng adds that the Ministry of Health is working with stakeholders and other development partners to contain the spread of this disease.

She says following measures have been put in place in order to limit the spread of this highly infectious disease.

The ministry has appealed to members of the public to avoid direct contact with body fluids of a person suffering from Marburg by using protective materials like gloves and masks.

Related articles

• WHO: Marburg haemorrhagic fever in Uganda
• Deadly Marburg virus outbreak in Uganda
• Uganda hit with Marburg [Aetiology]

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This followed the completion of the requisite 42 days of post Ebola surveillance period.

The World Health Organisation requires that any affected country monitors the Ebola situation for a period of 42 days before finally declaring an end to the outbreak.

The State Minister for Health in charge of primary health care Sarah Opendi says there have been no Ebola cases reported in Kibaale district or any other part of the country. The last confirmed case was discharged from the isolation ward of Kagadi Hospital on the 24th of August.

Addressing health development partners and members of the National Task Force at Kagadi Hospital, Opendi said the health ministry is committed to promoting the health of all Ugandans through provision of the highest possible level of services.

Meanwhile the WHO Country Representative Dr. Joachim Saweka has commended the different organizations for their active role in containing the outbreak that left 17 people dead in July.

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The police commander of Jinja, Jonathan Musinguzi says that the Uganda Police have the capacity to manage the fire if the police Fire brigade is called on time.

Musinguzi says that many times people call the Fire Brigade when the fire has already escalated and there is nothing to save. The police commander says that the Fire Brigade has the capacity to bring down the fire if people report the fire outbreak on time. He also says the public is blamed for making up narrow roads where Fire Brigade vehicles can not pass.

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