BY JOACKIM KULE
Kasese has registered strides in combating the spread of Mpox and anthrax diseases that were recently declared in the country.
The Ministry of Health on July 24 this year declared an outbreak of Mpox with two cases in Bukonzo County West, Kasese district.
The Kasese District Surveillance Focal Person, Mr. Arafat Bwambale while presenting a status report to the members of the District Taskforce during their sitting at the One – Stop – Border Post in Mpondwe –Lhubiriha Town Council on Wednesday, stated that since the outbreak, only four positive cases of Mpox has been reported with no deaths.
He mentioned that the cases involved a 37 year – old Congolese housewife who lives in Kambukamabwe, a 22 year-old man in Kamukumbi, a 30 year – old Boda-Boda rider in Kabuyiri cell and a 27 year – old casual laborer in Nyabugando.
According to him, the people who tested positive were admitted and later discharged after registering progress.
The Surveillance Focal Person also told the meeting that out of the seven samples that were taken for anthrax examination, only two tested positive, two negative, while three are still pending at the Uganda Virus Institute.
He, however, noted that the disease claimed the life of one person in Bukonzo County West.
The Kasese District Health Officer, Dr. Amon Bwambale noted that much more interventions are being initiated to ensure that no more infections are registered in the district.
The Kasese Deputy RDC in-charge of Bukonzo County, Lt. Maate Magwara who chaired the meeting, however, noted that Kasese still becomes prone to the disease due to its proximity with the DRC and Burundi.
He suspected that the transit of cattle to the DRC could also influence the spread of the disease, calling upon the community members to be more vigilant as government puts in place more interventions.
ENDS