KAMPALA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's Ministry of Health on Wednesday confirmed a case of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Kyankwanzi District in central Uganda.
In a statement issued here, the ministry said laboratory tests on samples taken from a 21-year-old male nurse from Kagalama Village in Butemba Town Council returned positive for the virus.
The ministry said the index case, who initially sought care at a drug shop, was isolated, supportive treatment was initiated, and the case investigation form was completed. The patient, who keeps livestock and operates a private drug shop, was admitted to St. Peter's Hospital in neighboring Kiboga District on Feb. 2 with a three-day history of non-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, joint pains, conjunctivitis, epigastric burning pain, chest pain, and unexplained bleeding from the nose and gums.
Health authorities have identified eight contacts who are currently under follow-up in Kyankwanzi and neighboring Kiboga District.
The statement said active case search and alert verification have been activated, case investigations are ongoing, contact line listing has been conducted, and a health surveillance team has been deployed.
According to the World Health Organization, CCHF is a tick-borne viral disease transmitted to humans through tick bites or direct contact with infected blood or bodily fluids. The disease, endemic in Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, carries a high fatality rate ranging from 10 percent to 40 percent. ■