There’s an outbreak of Yellow Fever in the central district of Masaka with 3 confirmed cases according to the Ministry of Health.
The outbreak has been recorded in Buwunga sub county, Kasaka parish in Masaka where laboratory tests conducted by the Uganda Virus Institute confirmed 3 samples positive of this infectious viral hemorrhagic fever.
So far, according to the Ministry, 5 deaths have been recorded of which one is a confirmed case since the onset of the outbreak on March 13.
Preliminary reports from the district further indicate that 7 new suspected cases have been identified and their blood samples submitted for testing.
Dr. Ruth Aceng, the Director General of Health Services in the Ministry in a statement said a national taskforce has been set up to coordinate all efforts and measures to address the control and management of the outbreak.
“A team of experts who will assist district teams with clinical and epidemiological investigations. The Ministry has also trained a team which is already on ground at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital on the viral hemorrhagic fevers,” said Dr. Aceng.
Public sensitization will be intensified on preventive measures and raising awareness about the disease as well as vaccination of people in Masaka district.
Ministry of Health urged the general public to sleep under mosquito nets, wear proper clothing to reduce mosquito bites during the day and to clear mosquito breeding places around homesteads.
Yellow Fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by a virus transmitted from human to human by a mosquito (Aedes) bite.
Those who contract the disease present signs of acute fever with at least abdominal pain, headache, jaundice, unexplained bleeding and failed response to malaria treatment.