Uganda: Hepatitis B hits Kasese

[Guest guest]

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, ana 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.

Bwambale said the district health office had communicated to the World Health

Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak one month ago, but had not received a

response.

He said the district needed thorough research about the disease.

Bwambale asked health workers to always counsel people before they are tested

for the disease to avoid traumatising them.

<cut>

The district health officer, Dr. Yusufu Baseka, said the health ministry had

donated 1,500 doses of the vaccine to health officers in the district.

“We realise that the Government cannot afford to vaccinate everyone in the

district, but we can only start with the health officers who are at a higher

risk of infection,” Baseka said.

He said an adult’s dose costs about sh100,000.

Baseka advised the public to seek treatment from private health centres that

have procured the vaccine.

He warned against the use of herbs to treat the disease, saying it escalates the

damage on the liver and advised the residents to seek treatment immediately

after they test positive for the disease.

[Guest guest]

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, ana 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.

Bwambale said the district health office had communicated to the World Health

Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak one month ago, but had not received a

response.

He said the district needed thorough research about the disease.

Bwambale asked health workers to always counsel people before they are tested

for the disease to avoid traumatising them.

<cut>

The district health officer, Dr. Yusufu Baseka, said the health ministry had

donated 1,500 doses of the vaccine to health officers in the district.

“We realise that the Government cannot afford to vaccinate everyone in the

district, but we can only start with the health officers who are at a higher

risk of infection,” Baseka said.

He said an adult’s dose costs about sh100,000.

Baseka advised the public to seek treatment from private health centres that

have procured the vaccine.

He warned against the use of herbs to treat the disease, saying it escalates the

damage on the liver and advised the residents to seek treatment immediately

after they test positive for the disease.

[Guest guest]

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, ana 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.

Bwambale said the district health office had communicated to the World Health

Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak one month ago, but had not received a

response.

He said the district needed thorough research about the disease.

Bwambale asked health workers to always counsel people before they are tested

for the disease to avoid traumatising them.

<cut>

The district health officer, Dr. Yusufu Baseka, said the health ministry had

donated 1,500 doses of the vaccine to health officers in the district.

“We realise that the Government cannot afford to vaccinate everyone in the

district, but we can only start with the health officers who are at a higher

risk of infection,” Baseka said.

He said an adult’s dose costs about sh100,000.

Baseka advised the public to seek treatment from private health centres that

have procured the vaccine.

He warned against the use of herbs to treat the disease, saying it escalates the

damage on the liver and advised the residents to seek treatment immediately

after they test positive for the disease.

[Guest guest]

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, ana 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.

Bwambale said the district health office had communicated to the World Health

Organisation (WHO) about the outbreak one month ago, but had not received a

response.

He said the district needed thorough research about the disease.

Bwambale asked health workers to always counsel people before they are tested

for the disease to avoid traumatising them.

<cut>

The district health officer, Dr. Yusufu Baseka, said the health ministry had

donated 1,500 doses of the vaccine to health officers in the district.

“We realise that the Government cannot afford to vaccinate everyone in the

district, but we can only start with the health officers who are at a higher

risk of infection,” Baseka said.

He said an adult’s dose costs about sh100,000.

Baseka advised the public to seek treatment from private health centres that

have procured the vaccine.

He warned against the use of herbs to treat the disease, saying it escalates the

damage on the liver and advised the residents to seek treatment immediately

after they test positive for the disease.