Five children have lost their lives due to unknown illness in Uganda, the local media reported on Saturday.
Some parents who lost their offsprings told the media that although they rushed to the hospital as soon as their kids felt bad, the doctors couldn't save their young patients since it was too late. However, one mother said that her daughter was cured thanks to "adequate treatment."
Leaders in the area reportedly demanded the country's health ministry to investigate what's "killing their children" and complained about slow response from local health authorities.
Doctor Alfred Kato, the district’s health officer, claimed, however, that it was likely acute malaria, the report said.
Doctor Alfred Kato, the district’s health officer, claimed, however, that it was likely acute malaria, the report said.
“Our health teams have visited the affected villages and discovered that the symptoms are similar to those of malaria. When Malaria is severe, it becomes complicated to treat. However, we are carrying out further investigations to establish what exactly the problem is, and later recommend evidence-based control measures,” he reportedly said.
Malaria is a potentially fatal illness that is spread by specific types of mosquitoes, primarily found in tropical areas. Africa is predominantly impacted by the disease, with a staggering 95% of cases and 96% of deaths occurring on the continent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Moreover, the number of malaria cases increased by about 5 million in 2022 compared to 2021. Every minute, a child under the age of five dies from malaria, according to the WHO.