Uganda: Additional human CCHF case reported in Masodde

The Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported an additional human Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) case from Masodde sub-county, Kyankwanzi district.

This brings the cumulative cases to 11 (7 confirmed, 4 probable) and three deaths from four districts since the beginning of the year- Kasese, Kiruhuru, Kyankwanzi and Lyantonde.

The MOH activated the national public health emergency operations center and deployed a rapid response team to conduct epidemiological investigations.

In addition, the district continues to conduct contact follow-up; strengthen surveillance among human and animal populations; and intensify risk communication, community engagement and social mobilization in the affected communities.

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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family. The CCHF virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 10–40%.

Animals become infected by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites. Although a number of tick genera are capable of becoming infected with CCHF virus, ticks of the genus Hyalomma are the principal vector.

The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter. The majority of cases have occurred in people involved in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers and veterinarians. Human-to-human transmission is possible.