Dominic Lomurecu, the acting Obongi District Health Officer told Uganda Radio Network-URN that they have been investigating 16 suspected cases who presented with signs and symptoms of the disease since last month.
Two people in Palorinya refugee settlement in Obongi district have tested positive for meningitis, health officials have revealed. Meningitis is caused
by inflammation of the meninges that surround the brain and
spinal cord and protect the central nervous system.
The two, cases which are among South
Sudanese refugees have been isolated at Belameling Health Center II
in Zone 1, Palorinya sub-county, according to the Obongi health officials.
Dominic Lomurecu, the acting Obongi District Health Officer told Uganda Radio Network-URN that they have been investigating 16 suspected cases who presented with signs and
symptoms of the disease since last month.
Two out of the 16 cases tested positive. He further notes
that they have so far listed about 95 contacts who are believed to have interacted
with the confirmed cases for a possible follow-up and monitoring in the next seven
days.
//Cue in: “We have been…
Cue out: …a bit safe.”//
According to Lomurecu, they suspect the refugees could have
carried the virus from South Sudan due to the frequent movement during the
recent festive season.
//Cue in: “All these suspects…
Cue out: …contribute to that.”//
Christopher Dradiku, the West Nile Regional Integrated Disease surveillance response focal person based at Arua Regional Referral
Hospital explains that they are still waiting for a case definition from the
Ministry of Health to declare an outbreak.
Dradiku says that they have already embarked on a sensitization
campaign to prevent the further spread of the disease among the refugee
population and the host community.
//Cue in: “As per the…
Cue out: …early as possible.”//
A person infected with Meningitis often presents with high
fever, stiff neck, vomiting, and confusion. While other symptoms include irritability,
general body weakness, and poor feeding. Uganda is one of the African countries with the highest rates and
incidence of meningitis, something attributed to the fact that it lies within
the extended meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa.
The most prone regions
include West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Bunyoro, and Karamoja since they lie
within the meningitis belt.
