Measles cases on rise in Kanungu
According to Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, the District Health Officer (DHO), there have been multiple reports of measles cases in the district.
Kanungu: The measles outbreak in Kanungu District is concerning. As of now, there are 27 confirmed cases, and one death has been confirmed due to the outbreak.
According to Mwajuma Twaha Adams, the district communications officer, the reported cases are from the four subcounties in the district.
He stresses that there is an increasing trend of infections, highlighting the urgent need for effective public health interventions such as MR vaccination campaigns and risk communication to curb the outbreak.
‘’We have identified the challenges, which include the use of local herbs and self-medication, insufficient involvement of community leaders in risk communication, and some health facilities failing to adequately report cases.’’
On July 19, 2024, the district task force held a meeting in the district health board room and scrutinized the status of measles in the district.
According to Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, the District Health Officer (DHO), there have been multiple reports of measles cases in the district.
On June 23, 2024, a clinic owner in Kihihi contacted the surveillance focal person (SFP) regarding a measles-rubella (MR) suspect admitted to the clinic. The patient was from Nyabirehe village, Kihembe parish, Kihembe Sub-County.
The SFP collected a sample and, through active case searching, identified three other MR suspects in the same village who were receiving treatment from drug shops. Samples were sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) through the HUB on June 27, 2024.
On July 7, 2024, the in-charge at Kihembe HCII informed the SFP about another MR suspect admitted to the health center. The patient revealed that five others in the village had similar symptoms. Six samples were collected on July 8, 2024, and sent to Kanungu HCIV for transportation to UVRI.
Additionally, a three-year-old girl, initially treated at home with herbs, was admitted to Kihembe HCII on June 25, 2024. Her measles sample, sent to UVRI for analysis, tested positive.
She was referred to Kihihi HCIV due to persistent fever, and her parents allegedly took her to herbalists in Mitooma, where she died on July 8, 2024.
Nyabirehe village reported more cases than other villages, with only 2 out of 16 villages reporting cases.
Signs and symptoms of measles
Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, skin rash, general body weakness, and loss of appetite.
Do you have an advertisement or an article you want to publish? Mail us at theugreports@gmail.com or WhatsApp +256394700683.
