One confirmed dead over Crimean –Congo fever in Kampala

One person has been confirmed dead of the Crimean Congo Heamorrhagic Fever (CCHF) at the Naguru hospital, the Nile Post has learnt.

According to Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the health ministry’s senior spokesperson the deceased was a 32 year old female

“She has been staying in Kireka, a Kampala suburb. She will be accorded a safe burial by Ministry of Health medical teams,”Ainebyoona said.

He noted that rapid response teams have been dispatched by the Ministry to undertake contact tracing.

There had been reports that the 32 year old had died of Ebola but the health ministry official denied them as being baseless, adding that tests carried out had found otherwise.

“On Wednesday, blood samples were obtained and sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) where they tested positive of CCHF,”Ainebyoona said.

According to the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) in the Bunyaviridae family.

The disease was first discovered in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever.

It was later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Soviet Union, throughout the Mediterranean, in northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Initial signs and symptoms for the virus include headache, high fever, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting.

Red eyes, a flushed face, a red throat, and petechiae (red spots) on the palate are also common.

Uganda last had a CCHF case in May, recorded in Kakumiro district .