RUKIGA – Authorities in Rukiga district have expressed fear over the spread of a strange Rubella disease that is confirmed to have affected 34 children.
According to the Rukiga District Health Officer, Dr Davis Ahabwe, the disease is rampant in Sub counties of Kamwezi and Bukindi sub-counties.
He says that they came to know about the disease after receiving several complaints from residents.
Mr. Ahabwe says that after taking blood samples from 74 children to Entebbe Viral institute, 34 children tested positive.
Rubella, also called German measles or three-day measles, is a contagious viral infection best known by its distinctive red rash.
Rubella is not the same as measles (rubeola), though the two illnesses do share some symptoms, including the red rash.
Rubella is characterized by rashes on the skin of the affected, eyes turn red, dry cough, fever and the tongue of affected turns in to whitish.
Dr Ahabwe says that the government through the Ministry of Health has already directed to immunize all children against Rubella which will take place between the 16th to 20th of October 2019.
“Government has so far directed the health ministry to start immunization in the district in a bid to cut shot the spread of this disease in the region,” Dr. Ahabwe noted.
Dr Ahabwe advises parents to always monitor their children and they discover the symptoms of disease is realized on their children, they should report immediately to the district health team adding that rubella disease has no cure but its symptoms can controlled.
The Rukiga district woman Member of Parliament Caroline Kamusiime Muhwezi and the district speaker Geoffrey Byamugisha say that the disease is affecting parents in the area through spending much in treating rubella but appeals to parents to embrace regular medical check for their children in order to stop the spread of Rubella.
