{UAH} OH SHIT..! Deadly jiggers outbreak hits Uganda

Deadly jiggers outbreak hits Uganda

  

A new outbreak of jiggers in rural Uganda has killed several people in in the last two weeks.

 

Jiggers are small parasitic fleas, also known as chigoe flea, which usually enter their victims through their feet, causing parts of the body to rot leading to a horrific death.

We lack drugs for spraying houses and treating those infected with jiggers

Last week seven people from Kabong District, 400kms north west of the capital, Kampala, died from the disease, which experts say is curable.

The district chairperson, Joseph Komol paints a gloomy picture "more than 8,000 people in my district are infected with jiggers," warning that more people will die soon without medical assistance.

"Some of the infected people cannot even eat using their hands because their fingers are infested with jiggers."

Rescue efforts have yet to be organised following the spread of the parasites.

When left untreated, jiggers can lead to serious medical complications, as it eats away the limbs and later other parts of those infected while inflicting deep rotting wounds, incapacitating the victim over time until they die.

A local teacher, Molly Apiga on Monday said fewer children were attending lessons following the outbreak.

The disease has spread to several villages in Busoga region, 100kms east of Kampala.

In Mayuge district, where three people recently died from jiggers, a local government official, Yunus Batwawuala has called for urgent assistance from central government to fight the outbreak.

"We lack drugs for spraying houses and treating those infected with jiggers," he said.

Medical workers say the sharing of houses with domestic animals, particularly pigs, is the major cause of the current jiggers epidemic in the country

"The major cause of jiggers epidemic is poor hygiene," Dr Abel Nsaga said.

The parasitic flea, which is capable of jumping up to 20 centimetres, lives in the soil and feeds intermittently on warm-blooded hosts, especially pigs and livestock.

Nsaga explained that Jiggers usually infects the feet of pigs, who leave behind the chigoe flea as they move and end up infecting those around, including humans.

Ministry of health officials said that in some areas infested with jiggers they have already started spraying so they exterminate the fleas.

"We have started sensitising people on how to guard against jiggers. We are also spraying in some villages," John Mukalasa, an official of the ministry said.

Read the original article on Theafricareport.com : Deadly jiggers outbreak hits Uganda | East & Horn Africa 
Follow us: @theafricareport on Twitter | theafricareport on Facebook

___________________________________

Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

--
Anybody know where Mr.Simon Peter Okurut is? UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans and Africans in general. Individuals are responsible for whatever they post on this forum.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.