Kasese District Registers Suspected Cases Of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Kasese District has registered five suspected cases of the Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).

The suspects have been admitted at Bwera Government General Hospital.

Stephen Bagonza, the acting Kasese District Health Officer-DHO says blood samples have been collected from the suspected cases and taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for confirmatory tests. 

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus, transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter.

The disease, which is endemic in Africa, has the case fatality rate of 10–40 per cent.

The disease is characterized by sudden onset of fever, bruising or rash, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and sensitivity to light, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion.  

Meanwhile, the health authorities in the district have dismissed social media reports indicating an outbreak of Ebola. The report posted online claimed that Kasese district has had an outbreak of Ebola with a case reported in Hima Town Council. 

Bagonza on Wednesday said the community should ignore the fake reports as the district has not yet recorded any outbreak of the virus. However, he is asking the community to continue taking precautionary measures against any diseases.