Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Kyegegwa District, located in the western part of the country. The announcement came on Friday after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the virus in a patient.
According to health officials, a 28-year-old man from Kazizi village in Kyatega sub-county tested positive for CCHF. He is currently receiving treatment in isolation at Bujubuli Health Center. Reports indicate that he began experiencing symptoms, including severe headaches, general body weakness, and excessive nosebleeding, on February 28. Initially, he sought care at a local clinic before transferring himself to Bujubuli Health Center on March 7.
Authorities have also identified two more suspected cases, who have been placed in isolation at the same facility. In response, health teams are conducting active case investigations and tracing individuals who may have been in contact with the confirmed and suspected cases.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a viral disease primarily transmitted through tick bites, though human-to-human spread can occur through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. The World Health Organization warns that the disease, which is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East, has a fatality rate ranging between 10/percent and 40/percent.
Health officials have urged the public to take preventive measures, including avoiding tick bites and practicing proper hygiene when handling potentially infected individuals. Surveillance efforts are ongoing to prevent further spread of the disease.