Crimean fever: Isolated locals sent home over lack of funds

What you need to know:

Background. The isolated group had attended the burial of a resident who died of the haemorrhagic fever on July 31.

A total of 49 people, who had been isolated on suspicion of having Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Lyantonde District, have been asked to return to their homes, a decision that has caused panic in the communities.
The group had been isolated at the home of Mr Vincent Bayinda in Kirindimula Village, Kasangama Sub-county, who succumbed to the deadly disease on July 31. The group, who had attended the burial of Bayinda, were being monitored for any sign of the disease.
According to Dr Moses Nkanika, the district health officer, they were forced to let the suspected patients return to their homes on Tuesday due to lack of funds to take care of them.
Dr Nkanika said they had anticipated to receive a team of experts and financial assistance from the Health ministry but since last week, they have not received any funding or medical supplies such as gloves, disinfectants, testing kits and protective gear.
“After failing to get support from the line ministry, we had no option but to ask people to reunite with their families. I could no longer meet the huge expenses since the district is also stuck with a problem of lack of funds,” he said during an interview yesterday.
Dr Nkanika added that he was forced to use his personal money to arrange Bayinda’s burial last week and has been supporting the isolated people for the few days they have been under quarantine.
The suspected patients are from Mpumudde, Kinuka, Kasagama and Kaliiro sub-counties.
This has raised fears that their return to communities may lead to the spread of the disease.
Ms Meron Tusiime, a resident of Mpumudde Sub-county, who was among those confined, said they were surprised by the health authorities’ decision to send them back home.
“Ever since we were confined at this home, we have not been attended to due to lack of simple items such as gloves and disinfectants. The health workers kept avoiding us, fearing that they might contract the disease,” she said.
Mr Mark Kizza, a husband of one of the people that was at the isolation unit, said his wife’s sudden discharge without ascertaining her health condition is a risk to the entire family
The district chairperson, Mr Fred Muhangi, castigated the government for failure to respond to reports about the outbreak of the deadly disease in the area.
“We wonder why the ministry [of Health] does not help us whenever we report such outbreaks in our district. Last year, we lost eight people to Rift Valley Fever but we were also not helped, which leaves us with many unanswered questions,” he wondered.
The Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Diana Atwine, on Wednesday declined to comment on the matter, referring us to the Director of Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa, who said he was attending a meeting and promised to callback. By press time yesterday, he had not called back to explain the ministry’s stand.

Compiled by Paul Ssekandi, Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa & Malik F Jjingo

ABOUT THE FEVER

Transmission. According to the World Health Organisation, Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by Bunya virus. It is transmitted through tick bites, contact with infected animal blood or tissues, and person-to person transmission via blood, body fluids and semen. The symptoms are fever, general body weakness, headache, severe pain in limbs, bloody diarrhea and bleeding from body openings. An outbreak of the disease has been confirmed in several parts of the country since 2017. A recent case was reported in April in Bundegere Village, Wakiso District.