RIFT VALLEY FEVER OUTBREAK CONFIRMED IN KIBOGA, MITYANA

By; Ben Musanje

The Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Kiboga and Mityana districts.

According to a release by the ministry, two samples collected from the two districts were confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) on November 21.

So far two people have died due to the deadly virus.

A 26-year-old male forest ranger from Gogonya village in Kiboga district died of the fever on November 16 after suffering from bleeding tendencies for three days. The deceased was bleeding from mouth and nose, and had sought treatment from St Peters Clinic from Kiboga town.

In Mityana district, a 69-year-old fisherman from Gombe Mwalo village passed away on November 21 after bleeding from the nose and mouth. He was admitted in Nama Health Centre II, and the blood sample picked and tested from him also turned out positive.

According to Dr Charles Olaro, the Acting Director General of Health Services, both Health and Agriculture ministry are undertaking a number of measures to control the current outbreak including, treating affected and suspected patients.

A National rapid response team has been constituted and dispatched to support the districts by increasing surveillance and sensitizing the population.

Dr Olaro also called for the public to slaughter animals after getting clearance on the safety of the animal, avoid consuming meat from animals that die of unknown causes, avoid contact with people affected by the disease and stay clean.

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral zootomic disease that primarily affects animals but can also infect humans. The majority of human infections result from contact with the blood or organs of infected animals. Human infections have also resulted from the bites by infected mosquitoes.

To date, no human-to-human transmission of RVF virus has been documented. The incubation period – the interval from infection to onset of symptoms – for RVF varies from 2 to 6 days, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Outbreaks of RVF in animals can be prevented by a sustained programme of animal vaccination.