Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/758150
Hepatitis B hits Kasese
Monday, 20th June, 2011
By Bernard Masereka
HEALTH officers in Kasese district have reported an outbreak of hepatitis B across the district.
The disease causes inflammation of the liver and destroys its capacity to perform its functions. The hepatitis B virus can be passed to an infant during childbirth if the mother is infected.
The district disease surveillance officer, Ericana Bwambale, said one case of hepatitis B in a family is considered an out-break because it is highly contagious.
In April, two people from the same family died of the disease in Bugoye sub-county within one month.
Bwambale said the rate at which people are testing positive for the disease in the district is alarming, saying the prevalence rate was at 11%.
?All hospitals in the district have reported cases of the disease,? Bwambale told journalists at his office in Rukoki on Friday.
He said the most affected area was Bwera zone at the border of Uganda with the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwambale said the only protection from the disease was immunisation, but the vaccine is so expensive and the district cannot afford to vaccinate everyone...
Hepatitis B hits Kasese
Monday, 20th June, 2011
By Bernard Masereka
HEALTH officers in Kasese district have reported an outbreak of hepatitis B across the district.
The disease causes inflammation of the liver and destroys its capacity to perform its functions. The hepatitis B virus can be passed to an infant during childbirth if the mother is infected.
The district disease surveillance officer, Ericana Bwambale, said one case of hepatitis B in a family is considered an out-break because it is highly contagious.
In April, two people from the same family died of the disease in Bugoye sub-county within one month.
Bwambale said the rate at which people are testing positive for the disease in the district is alarming, saying the prevalence rate was at 11%.
?All hospitals in the district have reported cases of the disease,? Bwambale told journalists at his office in Rukoki on Friday.
He said the most affected area was Bwera zone at the border of Uganda with the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bwambale said the only protection from the disease was immunisation, but the vaccine is so expensive and the district cannot afford to vaccinate everyone...
