Dengue fever hits UPDF in Somalia
Sep 15, 2011
A total of 122 UPDF soldiers in Somalia have been attacked by Dengue fever, Parliament has heard.
By Joyce Namutebi
A total of 122 UPDF soldiers in Somalia have been attacked by Dengue fever, Parliament has heard.
Health minister Dr. Christine Ondoa told MPs yesterday that the ministry was working together with the UPDF health department to control the fever in Somalia.
They are also working to prevent importation of the disease into Uganda by returning soldiers.
She was briefing Parliament about the outbreak of Hepatitis B in the country.
This followed concerns raised by Beatrice Anywar (Woman Kitgum) and other MPs regarding the outbreak of Hepatitis in Kitgum and other districts.
According to the permanent secretary of the health ministry, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, Dengue fever is a viral infection and is spread by mosquitoes.
Its symptoms are nose bleeding, general body weakness and red eyes.
The disease eventually leads to total organ failure if not treated, he added.
Lukwago said the cases have been managed in Nairobi.
According to the World Health Organisation, the disease causes a severe flu-like illness and sometimes a lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever.
WHO disclosed that global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades, with about two fifths of the world’s population at risk.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
There is no specific treatment for dengue, but appropriate medical care frequently saves lives, WHO added.
The only way to prevent transmission of dengue virus is to get rid of the disease-carrying mosquitoes, WHO said.
A total of 122 UPDF soldiers in Somalia have been attacked by Dengue fever, Parliament has heard.
Health minister Dr. Christine Ondoa told MPs yesterday that the ministry was working together with the UPDF health department to control the fever in Somalia.
They are also working to prevent importation of the disease into Uganda by returning soldiers.
She was briefing Parliament about the outbreak of Hepatitis B in the country.
This followed concerns raised by Beatrice Anywar (Woman Kitgum) and other MPs regarding the outbreak of Hepatitis in Kitgum and other districts.
According to the permanent secretary of the health ministry, Dr. Asuman Lukwago, Dengue fever is a viral infection and is spread by mosquitoes.
Its symptoms are nose bleeding, general body weakness and red eyes.
The disease eventually leads to total organ failure if not treated, he added.
Lukwago said the cases have been managed in Nairobi.
According to the World Health Organisation, the disease causes a severe flu-like illness and sometimes a lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever.
WHO disclosed that global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades, with about two fifths of the world’s population at risk.
Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.
There is no specific treatment for dengue, but appropriate medical care frequently saves lives, WHO added.
The only way to prevent transmission of dengue virus is to get rid of the disease-carrying mosquitoes, WHO said.