An unidentified fatal disease broke out last week in West Nile subregion, Obongi County, Uganda. According to local press, as of April 28, 2014, the disease already claimed 4 lives and sent at least 64 to hospitals. New patients are soaring to health care center.
Apparently, this disease has symptoms of cholera (Cholera is an infection of the small intestine caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholera. The main symptoms are watery diarrhea and vomiting. This may result in dehydration and in severe cases grayish-bluish skin. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking water or eating food that has been contaminated by the feces (waste product) of an infected person, including one with no apparent symptoms. The severity of the diarrhea and vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and death in some cases. The primary treatment is oral rehydration therapy, typically with oral rehydration solution, to replace water and electrolytes. If this is not tolerated or does not provide improvement fast enough, intravenous fluids can also be used.) and ebola. Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by ebola viruses. Symptoms start 2 days to 3 weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, throat and muscle pains, and headaches. There is then nausea, vomiting and diarrhea along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. At this point some people begin to have problems with bleeding.The disease is first acquired by a population when a person comes into contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal such as a monkey or fruit bat. Fruit bats are believed to carry and spread the disease without being affected by it. Once infected the disease may be spread from one person to another. Men who survive may be able to transmit the disease sexually for nearly 2 months. To make the diagnosis, typically other diseases with similar symptoms such as malaria, cholera and other viral hemorrhagic fever are excluded. The blood may then be tested for either antibodies to the virus, the viral DNA, or the virus itself to confirm the diagnosis.).
Mr. Fungaroo Kaps Hassan, Member of Parliament for Obongi County - Moyo District, said the disease is contagious and kills very fast. He added that women are the most affected. Furthermore, people are being transported by motorcycle taxies which has caused disease to spread to drivers.
Local health care center is already congested and more patients continue to soar in.
From the article.
Obongi County MP, Fungaroo Caps, while addressing press at Parliament today, said the disease has symptoms of Ebola and Cholera though not yet confirmed. “It is a contagious disease which kills very fast. Moyo district is the most affected and particularly Obongi county,” Fungaroo added. The health centre 4 of Obongi is already congested as more patients continue to flock in. “Tents are immediately required since patients are on the open veranda.” The disease reportedly broke out on Saturday and the ministry of Health was alerted but nothing has been done so far. “We call upon all charity organization and other NGOs to quickly help us,” Fungaroo appealed. He further observed that there is no proper treatment being given to the soaring numbers of patients apart from simple dehydration interventions. “Women are the most affected, especially in Aliba, Imara sub counties. Worse still, there is no Ambulance on the ground.” People being transported on boda bodas which has caused more infections instead.
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West Nile subregion is a region in north-western Uganda. It is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and west, by South Sudan to the north and by the White Nile River to the east.
Disease is predicted to be one horrific consequence of global warming. Clearly, there is no way to connect this unknown disease to GCC at this point, but this is something to keep our eyes on.