Government dismisses Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever reports

Uganda has refuted claims of an outbreak of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) disease in the central districts of Luweero and Nakaseke as earlier reported by the district authorities.

Ms Sarah Opendi, the State Minister for State for Health - General Duties, who is currently holding the docket of the Health Minister told reporters on Sunday that claims of the outbreak of the epidemic are false.

Last week, it was reported that Bridget Nalunkuuma, a nine-year-old girl who had gone for Christmas holidays in Nakaseke District died after showing signs related to the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever.

The deceased travelled from Kagugo village in Luweero District and went to Buswagiro village in Butalangu Town Council in Nakaseke on December 23 to celebrate Christmas with her auntie identified as Ms Harriet Nassimbwa.

On Thursday last week, Nalunkuuma reportedly developed severe fever, headache, cough and vomited blood among other signs before dying less than an hour later, at Butalagu Health Centre II
The incident sent a wave of fear among residents and district leaders who demanded an explanation by government.

Ms Opendi, however, told journalists that laboratory results from the deceased’s blood samples that were received on January 13, were negative for CCHF and other viral haemorrhagic fevers including Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley Fever and Sosuga.

"She had also tested negative for malaria at Butalangu HC II. The Ministry of Health is continuing to investigate the possible cause of the death of this young girl in collaboration with partners," Ms Opendi said.

Government has, however, warned people against slaughtering and handling animals without protective gears for fear of transmission of animal diseases to humans.

Meanwhile, the minister says that a National Rapid Response Team (jointly from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries) has been dispatched to Nakaseke and Luweero districts with clear terms of reference to collect more information and assist the district to mount an appropriate response.

She said the government had embarked on sensitisation programmes to educate communities about the feared deadly disease across the cattle corridor districts.

Not the first Time
Nalunkuuma becomes the ninth person to die after showing signs related to Crimean Congo fever since Prof. Anthony K. Mbonye, the acting director general of Health Services confirmed a case of the virus in August last year.

On December 17 2017, a 9-year-old male pupil of Kasiiso Village Bamugolodde Parish, Butuntumula Sub-county in Luwero District developed symptoms of nausea, diarrhoea, intense fatigue, appetite loss and mild grade fever which progressed to a severe fever the next day.

He was taken to Abasi’s clinic, a private clinic in Luwero on December 19.
However, his condition worsened and was transferred to Kiwoko Hospital on December 22 where he was isolated.

A blood sample was collected from him and sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) while the general supportive treatment for fever, diarrhoea, nausea and appetite loss were being provided and the patient responded positively.
On December 27, 2017, results from UVRI tested positive for CCHF and negative for other viral haemorrhagic fevers including Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley Fever and Sosuga.
However, the patient remained on supportive treatment while in isolation.

On January 4, 2018, a second sample was collected and sent to UVRI to ascertain whether the virus had cleared on supportive treatment. The results indicated that the child was no longer infectious for CCHF and was discharged from isolation the next day on January 5.

MsOpendi confirmed that blood samples were collected from six close contacts to the confirmed case, including his mother who had attended to him in hospital and sent to UVRI and all tested negative.

Read:

Another Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever case reported in Nakaseke

State Minister for Health Ms Sarah Opendi said government works through its departments and that she is not aware of any outbreak for CCHF disease in Nakaseke

What is Crimean- Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF)?
CCHF is a viral zoonosis (animal to human) caused by infection with a tick-borne virus. The hosts of this virus are mostly with wild and domestic animals including sheep, cattle and goats.

These animals become infected after being bitten by infected ticks and the virus remains in their blood stream for about two weeks after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites.

How can one acquire it?
Human transmission may occur when human beings get in contact with infected ticks (through tick bites) or direct contact with blood or tissues of an infected animal.

The virus can be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infectious blood or body fluids.

In humans, the virus can present with several symptoms including sudden onset of high-grade fever, muscle aches, neck pains, neck stiffness, backache, sore eyes, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sometimes bleeding from body openings.

Who is prone to acquire CCHF?
In Uganda, the risk of acquiring and spread of CCHF is high among communities within the cattle corridor (occupational exposure) and is known to be endemic in Africa among cattle and occasionally shows up in human beings.