The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kween, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kween district is under surveillance after attack of the anthrax disease which started last month.
Health Officials in the district say 15 of the 19 people are undergoing treatment and over 15 heads of cattle have so far succumbed to the disease.
Phily Musobo, the Kween district Surveillance Officer told Uganda Radio Network (URN) that the disease broke out on April 12th, 2021 after six people reported to Atar HCIII, after reportedly eating meat from a dead cow which had died on the 7th April 2021.
He cited the affected villages of Chekwosum, Sukut and Kaptokolo in the two parishes of Kaptoyoy and Toswo of Kaptoyoy sub county, Ngenge Sub County, Giligi and the neighbouring sub counties where the disease is said to have originated and spread to Kaptoi and Kwosir.
He noted that one person succumbed to the disease late last month. The victim was from Kapchorwa where the disease is said to have spread.
Musobo said that the disease is fast spreading but the district is struggling to facilitate the response to the outbreak due to lack of funds. He also cited the lack of cooperation from the community despite intensive social mobilization conducted.
Anthrax is an acute zoonotic disease that historically has been described as occurring in 4 forms; cutaneous, inhalation, gastrointestinal and injection anthrax depending on the route of exposure.
It is transmitted through contact with infected livestock or wild animal with their carcas or with their tissues or parts of the animal; or possibly transmitted by biting flies that have fed on such animals.
The disease is also transmitted through contact with parts from infected animals such as hair, wool, hides or bone, or products made from theses (drums, brushes and rugs) or contact with contaminated bone meal used in gathering.
Contact with soil contaminated by infected animals is rarely reported as a source of exposure. The incubation period differs by form of anthrax; Cutaneous (average 5 – 7 days with a range of 1 – 12 days), inhalation (1-43 days with range of 1 – 60 days), gastrointestinal (incubation ranges from 1 – 6 days) and injection (incubation of 1- 10 days or more).
*******
URN
