National
Suspected measles cases in Hoima increase to 300
A patient at Kigorobya Health Centre on Tuesday. Only patients with dehydration were admitted.
Posted Friday, January 4 2013 at 02:00
The number of people suspected to have contacted measles in an outbreak in Hoima District have continued to rise with medical officials registering more than 300 new cases.
By press time, only two people, Night Petralina, 35, a resident of Nyanseke village, Kaseeta Parish in Kabwooya Sub-county and Wera Doroka, eight, from Nyairongo Village in Kabwooya, had died of the suspected disease.
The district health inspector, Mr Fredrick Byenume, yesterday said only those with acute complications had been admitted to Kaseeta Health Centre III. “The cases are many. It is only those with dehydration that are admitted. Those with other signs get treatment and return to respective homes,” Mr Byenume said.
The patients have red eyes, general body weakness, skin rash, cough, diarrhoea, vomit and a running nose. Three patients were admitted to Kaseeta Health Centre III on Wednesday while 10 were discharged the previous day following tremendous improvement.
The total number of patients so far hospitalised so far is 11.
Mr Byenume said surveillance reports indicate that the disease had affected residents of Kanyegaramire, Nyairongo, Sayuni and Senjojo villages in Kabwooya Sub-county and Kidoma Village in Kiziranfumbi Sub-county.
He said they had sent five samples to Uganda Virus Research Institute at Entebbe for testing, adding that the results were expected later in the week.
District health experts said if samples test positive, a mass immunisation exercise will be rolled out.
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