Rift Valley fever - Uganda

Rift Valley fever – Uganda

February 17, 2022
< 1 min read

One man has died of Rift Valley Fever in Kagadi district, Uganda. The infection was identified after the individual passed away.

How the man got infected is unclear but they are tracing his close contacts to see if they were also infected.

So far only one person has been infected, he passed away.

Photo: Rift Valley Fever virions inside of cells – Electron micrograph.

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral disease of humans and livestock that can cause mild to severe symptoms.

The mild symptoms may include: fever, muscle pains, and headaches which often last for up to a week. The severe symptoms may include: loss of sight beginning three weeks after the infection, infections of the brain causing severe headaches and confusion, and bleeding together with liver problems which may occur within the first few days. Those who have bleeding have a chance of death as high as 50%.

Outbreaks of the disease have only occurred in Africa and Arabia. Outbreaks usually occur during periods of increased rain which increase the number of mosquitoes.

The disease was first reported among livestock in Rift Valley of Kenya in the early 1900s, and the virus was first isolated in 1931.

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