Strange disease kills 12 in Kibaale
Sep 24, 2009
TWELVE people have died of a strange disease within two-and-a-half months in Bwikara sub-county, Kibaale district.
By Anne Mugisa
and Ismael Kasooha
TWELVE people have died of a strange disease within two-and-a-half months in Bwikara sub-county, Kibaale district.
Kibaale district acting health officer Edward Balimwijuka said the disease is characterised by fever, redness of the eyes, vomiting, stomach upset, loss of appetite and general body weakness.
Balimwijuka said cases of the disease were first reported on June 30 in Bwikara.
Reports indicate that the first people to die before the disease spread to other villages, were five members of the same family.
Blood samples examined at the Government Analytical Laboratory in Kampala did not show any specific organism.
However, postmortem examinations on the victims showed perforated intestines, the doctor said.
The head of Kibaale district community health, Dr. Isaac Kakibogo, said the disease had been confirmed in several parts of Buyaga county. However, he said the disease was not new.
“It has been around for sometime. Patients complain of severe abdominal pain, abdominal distention and high fever. When we operate on the patients, we find the intestines perforated,†said Kakibogo.
He disclosed that the patients require several operations on the intestines to improve.
However, the head of disease surveillance in the health ministry, Dr. Issa Makumbi, said the symptoms were similar to the ones of the typhoid fever in Kasese.
The health ministry has dispatched typhoid drugs to Kibaale and is waiting for feedback.
Makumbi urged residents to improve their hygiene, especially when handling food.
and Ismael Kasooha
TWELVE people have died of a strange disease within two-and-a-half months in Bwikara sub-county, Kibaale district.
Kibaale district acting health officer Edward Balimwijuka said the disease is characterised by fever, redness of the eyes, vomiting, stomach upset, loss of appetite and general body weakness.
Balimwijuka said cases of the disease were first reported on June 30 in Bwikara.
Reports indicate that the first people to die before the disease spread to other villages, were five members of the same family.
Blood samples examined at the Government Analytical Laboratory in Kampala did not show any specific organism.
However, postmortem examinations on the victims showed perforated intestines, the doctor said.
The head of Kibaale district community health, Dr. Isaac Kakibogo, said the disease had been confirmed in several parts of Buyaga county. However, he said the disease was not new.
“It has been around for sometime. Patients complain of severe abdominal pain, abdominal distention and high fever. When we operate on the patients, we find the intestines perforated,†said Kakibogo.
He disclosed that the patients require several operations on the intestines to improve.
However, the head of disease surveillance in the health ministry, Dr. Issa Makumbi, said the symptoms were similar to the ones of the typhoid fever in Kasese.
The health ministry has dispatched typhoid drugs to Kibaale and is waiting for feedback.
Makumbi urged residents to improve their hygiene, especially when handling food.