Africa-Press – Uganda. Health experts from Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) have united to fight the deadly plague outbreaks that had become common in the two countries.
During a 3-day meeting that started on Tuesday in Uganda’s West Nile Arua District, the health experts from the two countries “agreed to share information, improve referral systems and reportage of cases of plague.”
Strengthening cross border surveillance and response to plague is being conducted across both countries following cases of plague in the Eastern DR Congo and its border neighbor West Nile.
Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) Assistant Director Dr Tom Lutalo said: “We need to ensure that there is collaboration with the health officials from DR Congo.”
According to him, a laboratory that has been set up in Arua City will be helpful to manage sample tests both within West Nile and DR Congo.
The West Nile districts of Arua and Zombo have for several years been prone to outbreaks of a plague associated with DR Congo.
According to the in charge of Bringing Health district area in Ituri, Cleophase Ntumba, about 321 cases of plague reported in the DR Congo from 2021 to date.
“Out of 321, we have had six deaths as a result of plague. We only have one laboratory that is being constructed in Bunia with support from World Health Organisation (WHO),” he observed.
Initially, the samples collected from DR Congo would be transported to the capital Kinshasa, which takes one to two weeks to ascertain the results. This makes it difficult to manage and control outbreaks.
“We ask the Ugandan experts to help train our personnel in disease surveillance, reporting and control because it will be a great milestone” Bunia Division health analyst Pascal Ulama said, adding that “samples from DR Congo can be tested after a protocol is signed since both countries are East African Community (EAC) member states.”
The West Nile sub region last had plague cases in 2019 following a burial in DR Congo attended by people from Uganda.
“We have managed to use various mechanisms to stop plague to date,” the Arua Regional Program Manager in charge of plague at Uganda Virus Research Institute, Linda Atiku observed.
But the Assistant Commissioner for Public Health and Zoologist at Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Dr John Opolot, urged more funding for disease surveillance and research.
Plague
According to the WHO, plague is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis, a zoonotic bacterium, usually found in small mammals and their fleas.
It is transmitted between animals from their fleas. Humans can be contaminated by the bite of infected fleas, through direct contact with infected materials or by inhalation.
The symptom like flu presents in a period of 3-7 days. Some of the symptoms people should watch out for includes the sudden onset of fever, chills, head and body-aches and weakness, vomiting and nausea.
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