Medics Screen Tororo For Sleeping Sickness

By James Etuket AN emergency epidemic response team of doctors from the Livestock Research Institute (LIRI) in Tororo have started a screening exercise to identify people and cows infected with sleeping sickness. The disease hit the district two months ago. The team, led by Dr. William Ohayo, the director of LIRI, comprises of five doctors including Dr. Martin Otim in charge of livestock research at the institute. The screening exercise, which started April 24, has so far indicated that 10 people are infected in Amagoro parish of Tororo Municipality. Fifteen cows have also been found to be infected. The exercise, according to Ohayo, is meant to identify the infected people and cows so that they are isolated for treatment. He said the exercise is to cover the entire district within the shortest time possible. The affected sub-counties include Robongi and Mulanda in Budama, Buteleja in Bunyole, Osukuru and Kwapa in Tororo county and the municipality. Ohayo said cows are the biggest carriers of the disease (nagana). It is transmitted by tsetse flies. He said tsetse flies had moved from bushes and swamps to shrubs near homesteads from where they have easy access to people. Ends