A strange disease in Uganda has killed at least 20 people in Kasasa sub-county, Kyotera district leaving authorities and residents worried about their lives.

The residents in Kijojo A and Kijojo B have started migrating to other areas over fears they could contract the disease that is yet to be identified by the Ministry of Health.

Kyotera district chairperson Patrick Kintu Kisekuulo said they were waiting for results from the Ministry of Health to determine what’s the disease and how it has killed residents.

“We think the best measure now should be, declaring a quarantine as health experts finalize a report on what could be the cause of these unusual deaths,” Daily Monitor quoted Kisekuulo

Symptoms of the disease include vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and bleeding with death reported after two to three days.

According to Kasasa sub-county chairperson Denis Muyunga, some residents linked the deaths to witchcraft while others claimed it could have been a result of a caterpillar present in coffee plantations in the region.

“There’s a lot of confusion. Let health experts come here and help us,” he said.

Five residents were reported to have got similar symptoms during the last week and were being ‘treated’ by traditional healers.

The Ministry of Health stated one victim died from meningitis.

Odirah Nansamba, the deputy spokesperson Ministry of Health, said experts had been dispatched to the affected areas to establish the cause of the disease.

Source: Tuko