Lowland grazing and Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak in Kween district, Eastern Uganda

Aggrey Siya,Innocent B Rwego,Gabriel Tumwine,Donald R Kugonza,Arnold Ezama,William Bazeyo,Leonard Manirakiza,Doreen Tuhebwe

doi:10.1186/s12889-019-6477-y

Abstract

BackgroundUganda is one of the few countries in Africa that has been experiencing outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fevers. In 2017 Uganda experienced a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak with case fatality rate of 100% in Kween district. Although hunting for wild meat was linked to the MVD outbreak in Kween district, less was reported on the land use changes, especially the changing animal grazing practices in Kween district.MethodsThrough Makerere University One Health graduate fellowship program with attachment to Uganda Red Cross Society, a study was conducted among the agricultural communities to elucidate the risk behaviors in Kween district that can be linked to the 2017 Marburg disease outbreak.ResultsResults show that although a few elderly participants ascribed fatal causes (disobedience to gods, ancestors, and evil spirits) to the MVD outbreak during FGDs, majority of participants linked MVD to settling in caves (inhabited by Fruit Bats) during wet season as upper belts are extensively used for crop production leaving little space for animal grazing. Members also noted side activities like hunting for wild meat during this grazing period that could have predisposed them to Marburg Virus.ConclusionsThere is need to integrate One Health concepts within agricultural extension service provision in Uganda so as to enhance the management of such infectious diseases.

Highlights

Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa that has been experiencing outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fevers
Marburg Virus Disease is caused by a filovirus similar to Ebola that belongs to the family Filoviridae
Focus group discussions The study used data generated from focus group discussions (FGDs) undertaken in Kaptum and Kaproron sub counties, both located in the mid-latitudes of the Kween district, Uganda and within the lowland areas where livestock grazing is predominant during rainy season

Summary

Introduction

Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa that has been experiencing outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola, Marburg and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic fevers. In 2017 Uganda experienced a Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreak with case fatality rate of 100% in Kween district. Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) is one of the viral hemorrhagic fevers that affects both humans and non-human primates [7]. Marburg Virus Disease is caused by a filovirus similar to Ebola that belongs to the family Filoviridae. The Marburg virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever in humans with case fatality rates ranging between 24 and 88% [25]. The first recorded outbreak was in 2007, where three cases and one death were reported in a community associated with mining activities in the districts of Kamwenge and Ibanda, Western Uganda [10].

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Conclusion