In short
Dr. Moses Nkanika, the Lyantonde District Health Officer-DHO, says theres a possibility that the victims consumed meat from infected cows, sheep and goats. He says two other patients died after being referred to Mabarara Regional Hospital.
There is a confirmed outbreak of the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) in Lyantonde district. The disease has already claimed eleven people and left several others in critical condition in two months, according to local authorities.
Nine of the deaths have been reported in Kitazigolokwa village, Katovu parish in Lyantonde rural sub-county. Some of the deceased are Posiano Kamugyendera, Zavelio Ssekalunga, Dan Karyogo, Posiano Mwesigye, Isma Nzugerwa, Abel Samusooni and a one of Kamugyendera of Katovu trading center.
Dr. Moses Nkanika, the Lyantonde District Health Officer-DHO, says there's a possibility that the victims consumed meat from infected cows, sheep and goats. He says two other patients died after being referred to Mabarara Regional Hospital.
Nkanika explains that they have received several cases from different sub-counties and the most complicated are referred to Mbarara Regional hospital. He noted that they are on high alert to the spread of the disease.
Dr. Okoth Obo, the Medical Superintendent Lyantonde Hospital, says they established an isolation center to handle RVF cases, adding that they have received 10 patients in recent weeks.
Patrick Rwozi, the Katovu Parish councilor, says some of the victims died after two or three days in admission. In Kansagama sub-county, more than 10 people in Mityekula village, Kagaala parish have been admitted in critical condition after consuming meat from an infected cow.
Bebwa Abern, the Mityekula village secretary, says one of the residents slaughtered a sick cow and sold meat to fellow residents. RVF is a viral disease that primarily affects animals but has the capacity to infect humans and can result to death, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ronald Bameka, the Lyantonde District Veterinary Officer, says over 15 cows and 22 goats have died since the outbreak. He says that over 200 animals are at high risk, which may lead to a huge loss to livestock dealers in Lyantonde.
He warns that meat from infected animals is being sneaked into the market posing a high risk to the consumers, adding that they have so arrested three people for slaughtering sick cows and selling meat to unsuspecting residents.
According to Bameka, he wrote to the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and the ministry of health seeking their intervention but none has responded.
In order to contain the spread of the fever, Fred Muhangi, the Lyantonde LCV Chairperson, says the district has already paid for radio programs to sensitize the public about the outbreak.
He says that they have also stepped up their operations against the sale of uninspected meat as well as unauthorized animal movement in the district. The RVF outbreak comes at the time when the district is still under the foot-and-mouth-disease quarantine, which has hindered the livestock business.
The Health Ministry, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, says different teams of experts have already been dispatched to Lyantonde, Mbarara, Isingiro and Kiruhura where the outbreak was announced.
The teams will sensitise people about the outbreak and the danger of eating meat of infected cows.
Nine of the deaths have been reported in Kitazigolokwa village, Katovu parish in Lyantonde rural sub-county. Some of the deceased are Posiano Kamugyendera, Zavelio Ssekalunga, Dan Karyogo, Posiano Mwesigye, Isma Nzugerwa, Abel Samusooni and a one of Kamugyendera of Katovu trading center.
Dr. Moses Nkanika, the Lyantonde District Health Officer-DHO, says there's a possibility that the victims consumed meat from infected cows, sheep and goats. He says two other patients died after being referred to Mabarara Regional Hospital.
Nkanika explains that they have received several cases from different sub-counties and the most complicated are referred to Mbarara Regional hospital. He noted that they are on high alert to the spread of the disease.
Dr. Okoth Obo, the Medical Superintendent Lyantonde Hospital, says they established an isolation center to handle RVF cases, adding that they have received 10 patients in recent weeks.
Patrick Rwozi, the Katovu Parish councilor, says some of the victims died after two or three days in admission. In Kansagama sub-county, more than 10 people in Mityekula village, Kagaala parish have been admitted in critical condition after consuming meat from an infected cow.
Bebwa Abern, the Mityekula village secretary, says one of the residents slaughtered a sick cow and sold meat to fellow residents. RVF is a viral disease that primarily affects animals but has the capacity to infect humans and can result to death, according to World Health Organisation (WHO).
Ronald Bameka, the Lyantonde District Veterinary Officer, says over 15 cows and 22 goats have died since the outbreak. He says that over 200 animals are at high risk, which may lead to a huge loss to livestock dealers in Lyantonde.
He warns that meat from infected animals is being sneaked into the market posing a high risk to the consumers, adding that they have so arrested three people for slaughtering sick cows and selling meat to unsuspecting residents.
According to Bameka, he wrote to the ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries and the ministry of health seeking their intervention but none has responded.
In order to contain the spread of the fever, Fred Muhangi, the Lyantonde LCV Chairperson, says the district has already paid for radio programs to sensitize the public about the outbreak.
He says that they have also stepped up their operations against the sale of uninspected meat as well as unauthorized animal movement in the district. The RVF outbreak comes at the time when the district is still under the foot-and-mouth-disease quarantine, which has hindered the livestock business.
The Health Ministry, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, says different teams of experts have already been dispatched to Lyantonde, Mbarara, Isingiro and Kiruhura where the outbreak was announced.
The teams will sensitise people about the outbreak and the danger of eating meat of infected cows.
