Measles cases reported in Kanungu district, Authorities attribute the outbreak to Cross-border movement.
KANUNGU: Authorities in Kanungu district have expressed concern over the cross-border movement that might be contributing to the measles outbreak in the district.
Speaking at the task force meeting on Friday last week at Kanungu district health board room, RDC Ambrose Mwesigye said that Ugandans have to reduce cross border movements, which are common for agricultural and business purposes.
He noted that while Ugandans have been immunizing their population, it is uncertain whether people across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have done the same.
Updating on the Measles Surveillance and Response in Kanungu District District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Birungi Mutahunga, said there have been multiple reports of measles cases in the district.
Dr. Birungi highlighted a number of cases reported in some parties of the district including one reported on 23rd June 2024 at a clinic owner in Kihihi who contacted the surveillance focal person (SFP) regarding a measles-rubella (MR) suspect admitted at the clinic.
The patient was from Nyabirehe village, Kihembe parish, Kihembe Sub-County. The SFP collected a sample and, through active case searching, identified three other MR suspects in the same village who were receiving treatment from drug shops.
Samples were sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) through the HUB on June 27, 2024 and on 7th July 2024, the in-charge at Kihembe HCII informed the SFP about another MR suspect admitted to the health center.
The patient revealed that five others in the village had similar symptoms from which 6 samples were collected on 8th July 2024, and was sent to Kanungu HC IV for transportation to UVRI.
Additionally, a 3 year-old girl, initially treated at home with herbs, was admitted to Kihembe HC II on 25th June 2024 and her measles sample was sent to UVRI for analysis and tested positive.
She was referred to Kihihi HC IV due to persistent fever and died on July 7, 2024 with her parents allegedly taking her to herbalists in Mitooma, where she died on July 8, 2024.
The DHO confirmed that Nyabirehe village reported more cases than other villages, with only 2 out of 16 villages reporting cases with all the children who tested positive had been immunized, emphasizing that immunized children can still contract measles, but the disease is less severe.
Dr. Birungi said that the district have secured vaccinations, distributed on different centers including Kambuga Hospital with 600 doses, Bwindi CH with 350 doses, Kihihi HCIV with 110 doses, Kanungu HCIV with 160 doses, Rugeyo HCIV with 200 doses, Mpungu HCIV with 360 doses.
Other 3100 doses have been distributed to Health Center IIIs & II, 5850 doses to DVS all totaling to 10730 doses.
The Surveillance Officer Dr. Ilimaso Frank, clarified that Kanungu is on alert and not yet experiencing an outbreak with the three positive cases out of five samples tested simultaneously, not cumulatively.
Dr. Ilimaso reported that 22 health workers and 52 VHTs from Greater Kanyantorogo have been trained, and three outreach programs have been established and emphasized the need for supervision of private health facilities, as all positive cases were initially managed in private clinics.
Dr. Ilimaso said that there are Challenges including high stigma among parents, reliance on herbal treatments, and self-medication thus calling for the involvement of local leaders, church leaders, school nurses, and school health teachers in sensitizing and informing the public.
A representative from Medical Teams International (MTI) Akeni Peter highlighted their activities, including mentoring health workers in Kihembe and Kanyantorogo, screening asylum seekers at the Kyeshero and Ishasha border points, community sensitization, and supporting sample transportation.
