DEADLY RIFT VALLEY FEVER BREAKS OUT IN SHEEMA; KILLS ONE PERSON, 45 LIVESTOCK

4^th August 2018

By Micheal Atwakiire Bitunga

www.mknewslink.com

In Sheema

Residents of Sheema district especially animal keepers have expressed fear due to the outbreak of deadly Rift Valley Fever that attacks both animals and human beings and so far one person has been reported dead. The deceased is a resident of Kagorogoro cell, Kashozi Division Sheema Municipality.

According to Mr Richard the veterinary officer Sheema municipality, this fever kills both people and animals within six days. He added that over 45 cows have already died.

Richard said that if this fever attacks a pregnant animal or woman it leads to giving birth of immature baby or death of a baby in womb.

So far no medicine for the disease has been discovered but the victims can be given only first aid.

Benson Akankwatsa, the Health Inspector Sheema District said that Rift valley fever is spread by mosquitoes noting that even bats and bush rabbits can also spread it. He added that it is transmitted through blood and through eating meat of the infected animal.

The signs and symptoms of the fever in animals are loss of appetite, weakness, decrease in milk production, nosal discharge, diarrhea plus bleeding however in human beings symptoms come at last and that it takes few days for that person to die.
Infected person may vomit blood, bleeding, headache, coma or seizures and reddening of eyes.

People were thus asked to desist from eating dead animals, meat which isn’t tested by authorised doctors and all butchers were instructed not to slaughter any animal before the doctor tests it. The public was also urged to prevent themselves from mosquitoes.

This disease isn’t only affecting Sheema district but also Isingiro, mbarara in Kashaka and kashaari where more than 30 people have died in those three districts.

Source: www.mknewslink.com a greater western Uganda news website
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