Posted on 01/16/2018 1:42:30 PM PST by Red Badger
HEALTH bosses have confirmed they are facing an outbreak of the “eye-bleeding fever” after four people died of the suspected disease in weeks.
Uganda’s health ministry has today finally admitted it is facing the risk of a large-scale explosion of the viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF).
VHF causes victims to suffer a burning fever before beginning to bleed from orifices including their eyes, anuses and mouths.
It comes after a girl, nine, was reportedly killed by the infection Uganda, and three people died in neighbouring South Sudan of similar symptoms.
Uganda health minster Sarah Opendi confirmed emergency response teams are now being deployed to the districts of Nakaseke and Luweero.
She also identified the mystery disease, saying tests have revealed the infection is Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
Today, health minister Opendi said: "Results from Uganda Virus Research Institute tested positive for the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and negative for other viral Hemorrhagic Fevers like Ebola, Marburg, Rift Valley Fever and Sosua.”
The confirmation comes after just two weeks ago the Ugandan Health Ministry denied there was an outbreak.
Positive tests for CCHF came from samples taken from a 9-year-old paitent Kihwoko Hospital.
Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) have already said they were monitoring for an outbreak after reports in South Sudan.
CCHF is spread to humans via tick bites or contact with raw meat and infected animal blood immediately after slaughter.
"CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services because of its epidemic potential, its high case fatality ratio (10-40%), its potential for nosocomial outbreaks and the difficulties in treatment and prevention,” WHO’s description of the virus reads.
WHO first raised fears of a VHF outbreak in central Africa with a report of a number of deaths in South Sudan.
A pregnant woman, and two teenagers all succumbed to a mystery infection along with a number of animals.
However, it is not confirmed whether these deaths are also from CCHF or a separate similar strain of VHF.
Outbreak in the nation could be catastrophic – with South Sudan bordered by Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, the Congo and the Central African Republic.
There were fears up to 60 people could be infected, and are each undergoing analysis by a team from the Sudanese health ministry and WHO.
In a recent report, WHO wrote: "The outbreak of suspected viral haemorrhagic fever in South Sudan could rapidly evolve, and critical information including laboratory confirmation of the etiology of disease is needed to direct response efforts.
"Strengthened surveillance in affected human and animal populations is needed to facilitate rapid detection of human and animal cases and response.
“Strengthened capacity to clinically manage any new cases is also needed in the affected area.”
If you have to worry about contracting eye-bleeding diseases, you just might be in a $h!thole country.
didn’t they just prove that the incas were wiped out by an eye bleeding virus... by scraping dna off of teeth of bodies found from 1560s...
uh oh.
For the sake of humanity, STOP SENDING THOSE JOY BEHAR PHOTOS TO AFRICA!
Haven’t these poor people suffered enough?
Happens on a regular basis. It’s from the sh**holes.
Leave it to the Africans to suffer from stone-age type horror diseases where you bleed out all your orifices.
Shithole country problems. Soon to be USA problems. If the Rats get their way.
$hithole.............
Uganda, south Sdan and eye- bleeding disease... perfect together.
Well, that’s 2 more shithole coutries that are off of the bucket list.
Jeannie Bueller would still have to go to school.
“Strengthened surveillance”
“Clinically manage”
That’ll sure help, eh??
Previous hemorrhagic outbreaks were said to have been started by eating infected "bush meat" (monkeys and bats, IIRC). Infected humans spread the virus by contact with body fluids. Healthcare workers had to wear full-body suits and observe strict protocols against infection, and there were still casualties. Many died from caring for family members or burying their dead bodies.
An experimental treatment was developed, could it be done again for this new threat? Is Tamiflu effective?
AND..................
You just came back from a shithole country...........
Bleeding eye update ping.
My eyes feel like they’re gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry
My face is numb
F’d up and spun out in my room
-Green Day
Tamiflu?..............
They must have performed there................
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