Three individuals infected with anthrax have reportedly absconded from Kolir Health Centre III in Bukedea District, sparking worries among health authorities about containing the outbreak.
Last week, officials in the district acknowledged an anthrax outbreak in Aminit Sub-county, leading to the hospitalization of three individuals for close monitoring and treatment at Kolir Health Centre III.
Moses Oluka, the officer-in-charge at the health facility, revealed in an interview with Daily Monitor that the patients eluded supervision on Tuesday morning.
“We were supposed to isolate them. We told them to sit aside as we prepared ourselves, (put on our protective gear). When we went back to check on them, we found that they had escaped,” Oluka lamented.
Anthrax, a severe infectious ailment caused by the gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium Bacillus Anthracis, commonly resides in soil and affects both domestic and wild animals. Humans can contract the disease through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
Symptoms of anthrax include a raised, itchy bump resembling an insect bite that swiftly evolves into a painless sore with a black center, accompanied by swelling in the sore and nearby lymph glands. In some cases, individuals may experience flu-like symptoms such as fever and headache.
Dr. Emmanuel Odeke, the Bukedea District health officer, affirmed the district’s commitment to curbing the spread of the disease, emphasizing the importance of community sensitization.
“The current victims are said to have contracted the disease while skinning a cow which died of the disease. It requires a lot of sensitisation and a lot of community engagement. That is the biggest challenge about the disease, otherwise, it is not supposed to be very complicated if managed well,” Dr. Odeke remarked.
William Wilberforce Tukei, the Bukedea Resident District Commissioner (RDC), echoed Dr. Odeke’s sentiments, urging community vigilance and caution.
“Currently Bukedea is under quarantine. My warning to the people, let’s stop the habit of eating borrowed meat from other districts,” RDC Tukei cautioned.
He further announced plans to deploy a team of vigilantes to track down the missing patients and ensure compliance with quarantine measures.
