Mubende residents worried as strange disease kills 5

Ministry of Health officials say blood samples have been taken for tests, and locals have now resorted to witchcraft for cure.

Five people have so far died while 30 others are admitted to different health centres as a result of a strange disease that has hit Mubende District.

According to residents, the disease that broke out a few weeks ago, causes heat around the chest and itching in the neck, and within a few hours, the patient starts vomiting and bleeding through the nose and the mouth. It also causes diarrhoea and a high fever.

Residents claim that the disease is as a result of witchcraft, since some of the patients have sought help from witch doctors and allegedly felt better.

The district health officer, Dr Wilson Mubiru, explained that the first patients registered with symptoms of the disease suspected they were suffering from Ebola.

“We have forwarded blood tests to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe. Although we are yet to get the results, we highly doubt whether this is Ebola,” Dr Mubiru said.

Ministry of Health permanent secretary, Dr Asuman Lukwago, yesterday confirmed that cases of the strange illness had been reported to them, saying they were following it up.

Outbreaks
Just last week, Uganda was again declared Ebola-free after an outbreak in Luweero District killed four people.
However the government is still grappling with the nodding syndrome disease in northern Uganda that has killed scores of children and left others helpless.

stumwebaze@ug.nationmedia.com