Biological Hazard - Uganda, Western Uganda, [Bundibugyo refugee camp] : Cholera Outbreak

Earth Watch Report  -  Biological Hazards

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17.07.2013

Biological Hazard

Uganda

Western Uganda, [Bundibugyo refugee camp]

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Biological Hazard in Uganda on Wednesday, 17 July, 2013 at 03:22 (03:22 AM) UTC.

Description
Cholera has broken out in Bundibugyo District, in camps accommodating refugees who fled fighting between the Congolese and alleged rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Mr Mathias Kisembo, a clinical officer at Nyahuka Health Centre III, said they had 15 cases of cholera by Monday, with the most affected being children under five years. "More than 50 children are also admitted with malaria at this facility and we lack enough drugs," he said yesterday. As more refugees continue to enter Uganda, military sources said Ugandan security officials are keeping a close watch on the identities and activities of the refugees to ensure that insurgents do not enter the country disguising to be refugees. At least 10 primary schools in Bundibugyo have closed after they were occupied by refugees. Bundibugyo District chairman Jolly Tibemanya on Monday said they have to first re-empty the school toilets or build new ones so that schools can re-open.
Biohazard name:	Cholera Outbreak
Biohazard level:	2/4 Medium
Biohazard desc.:	Bacteria and viruses that cause only mild disease to humans, or are difficult to contract via aerosol in a lab setting, such as hepatitis A, B, and C, influenza A, Lyme disease, salmonella, mumps, measles, scrapie, dengue fever, and HIV. "Routine diagnostic work with clinical specimens can be done safely at Biosafety Level 2, using Biosafety Level 2 practices and procedures. Research work (including co-cultivation, virus replication studies, or manipulations involving concentrated virus) can be done in a BSL-2 (P2) facility, using BSL-3 practices and procedures. Virus production activities, including virus concentrations, require a BSL-3 (P3) facility and use of BSL-3 practices and procedures", see Recommended Biosafety Levels for Infectious Agents.
Symptoms:
Status:	confirmed

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Cholera outbreak reported in Bundibugyo refugee camp

By Ruth Katusabe, Thembo Kahungu & Francis Mugerwa

Posted  Wednesday, July 17  2013 at  01:00

BUNDIBUGYO

Cholera has broken out in Bundibugyo District, in camps accommodating refugees who fled fighting between the Congolese and alleged rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Mr Mathias Kisembo, a clinical officer at Nyahuka Health Centre III, said they had 15 cases of cholera by Monday, with the most affected being children under five years. “More than 50 children are also admitted with malaria at this facility and we lack enough drugs,” he said yesterday.

As more refugees continue to enter Uganda, military sources said Ugandan security officials are keeping a close watch on the identities and activities of the refugees to ensure that insurgents do not enter the country disguising to be refugees.


Read More  Here

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