Congo Crimean fever under control says Govt

Publish Date: Sep 11, 2013

By Violet Nabatanzi

All cases of suspected Congo Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been discharged from hospital.

The suspected cases were admitted at Mulago National hospital and in Agago at Kalongo hospital temporary isolation facility.

Speaking in an Interview the assistant Commissioner Health promotions at the ministry of health Dr. Christopher Oneke said “Congo Crimean fever is under control and so far no new cases have been reported.”

Recently a 27 year old woman died of the Congo Crimean Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) at Mulago National Referral Hospital. This was the first confirmed death since the outbreak was announced on August 16th 2013.

The deceased was admitted on August 16th with febrile illness, severe Anemia, vomiting blood, headaches and inter-menstrual bleeding.

The CCHF is a Zoonotic disease that is caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairo-Virus) of the Bunyaviridae family. This virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks; it is highly infectious and kills about 40% of people infected. It is endemic in livestock in Africa e.g. cattle, goats and sheep.

This virus is transmitted to human beings through bites of infected ticks. The ticks pick their infection from wild or domestic animals like sheep, cattle and goats among others.