Suspected Rift Valley Fever patient dies in Kabale

A patient admitted at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital suspected of contracting Rift Valley fever has passed away.

Issah Ndimurukundo a truck driver from Burundi died at the hospital after being admitted on Monday morning bearing symptoms of Rift Valley Fever.

Bernard Lubwama, an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health on Tuesday evening made the revelation while addressing the media at Kabale district Rukiiko Hall.

"This evening at around 7pm, the long truck driver who reported to us and was admitted at the regional referral hospital succumbed and died of a disease suspected to be RVI. He was vomiting a lot of blood" Lubwama said.

"The health workers there did all they could but unfortunately, they were not able to save his life. We had not yet received his lab results. Our burial team shall conduct his burial after clearance from his family and other structures in the Ministry of Health," Lubwama added.

The deceased was married to three women; one in Burundi and the others in Katuna and Entebbe.

According to health officials, there are 3 more suspects still admitted in Kabale with two of them at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital and the other at Rugarama Hospital. The two confirmed cases of the disease are said to be improving.

Efforts to control the spread of the virus continues to be implemented in the district.

The Ministry of Health has sent items to the medics in Kabale to help in controlling the spreading of the virus. These included jackets, aprons, gloves, gumboots among other items.

Officials have also continued medical education sessions at Kabale Regional Referral Hospital amongst staff there to sensitize them on the outbreak.