Uganda reports Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) fatality in Wakiso District

The Uganda Ministry of Health issued a press release Monday saying that there was one confirmed Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) case who died on Apr. 11.

The deceased was a 32-year-old man from Bendegere village, Kasenyi Parish-Katabi sub country in Wakiso District. He was was buried in Jinja District.

CCHF was confirmed by PCR at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.

Teams have been dispatched to the two districts and social mobilization has been intensified.

In addition, health officials, in an attempt to quell rumors on social media of Ebola Virus Disease in the country, the say their is NO Ebola confirmed in Uganda.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10–40%.

Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites. Although a number of tick genera are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector.

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Human-to-human transmission is possible.