Gastrointestinal malignancies at five regional referral hospitals in Uganda.

Background: There is a paucity of published data regarding the trend and distribution of gastrointestinal malignancies in Uganda.

Objectives: To study the trend and distribution of gastrointestinal malignancies over a 10 year period at five regional referral hospitals in Uganda.

Methods: Patient's charts with histologically confirmed diagnoses of gastrointestinal malignancies for the period 2002-2011 were identified.

Epidemiology and Surveillance of Influenza Viruses in Uganda between 2008 and 2014.

Introduction: Influenza surveillance was conducted in Uganda from October 2008 to December 2014 to identify and understand the epidemiology of circulating influenza strains in out-patient clinic attendees with influenza-like illness and inform control strategies.

Methodology: Surveillance was conducted at five hospital-based sentinel sites. Nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal samples, epidemiological and clinical data were collected from enrolled patients.

Long-term sequelae after Ebola virus disease in Bundibugyo, Uganda: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: The limited data available for long-term Ebola virus disease health outcomes suggest that sequelae persist for longer than 1 year after infection. The magnitude of the present outbreak in west Africa necessitates a more complete understanding of the health effects and future medical needs of these patients.

Methods: We invited adult survivors of the 2007 Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda and their contacts to take part in an observational study roughly 29 months after the outbreak.

Hepatitis E in Karamoja, Uganda, 2009-2012: epidemiology and challenges to control in a setting of semi-nomadic pastoralism.

Background: A prolonged hepatitis E outbreak occurred between 2009 and 2012 among a semi-nomadic pastoralist population in the Karamoja region of Uganda. As data on the public health problems of nomadic pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa is limited, we sought to characterize the epidemiology and challenges to control of hepatitis E in such a setting.

Methods: A retrospective case-series investigation was undertaken.

Prevalence of nodding syndrome--Uganda, 2012-2013.

Nodding syndrome (NS) is a seizure disorder of unknown etiology, predominately affecting children aged 3-18 years in three sub-Saharan countries (Uganda, South Sudan, and Tanzania), with the primary feature of episodic head nodding. These episodes are thought to be one manifestation of a syndrome that includes neurologic deterioration, cognitive impairment, and additional seizure types. NS investigations have focused on clinical features, progression, and etiology; however, none have provided a population-based prevalence assessment using a standardized case definition.

Emerging and reemerging epidemic-prone diseases among settling nomadic pastoralists in Uganda.

Epidemic-prone diseases have traditionally been uncommon among nomadic pastoralists as mobility allows already dispersed populations to migrate away from epidemic threats. In the Karamoja region of Uganda, nomadic pastoralists are transitioning to an increasingly settled lifestyle due to cattle raiding and associated civil insecurity. In attempts to reduce conflict in the region, the Ugandan government has instituted disarmament campaigns and encouraged sedentism in place of mobility.

Genetic analysis of influenza B viruses isolated in Uganda during the 2009-2010 seasons.

Background: Influenza B viruses can cause morbidity and mortality in humans but due to the lack of an animal reservoir are not associated with pandemics. Because of this, there is relatively limited genetic sequences available for influenza B viruses, especially from developing countries. Complete genome analysis of one influenza B virus and several gene segments of other influenza B viruses isolated from Uganda from May 2009 through December 2010 was therefore undertaken in this study.

The implementation of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response in Uganda: a review of progress and challenges between 2001 and 2007.

Background: In 2000 Uganda adopted the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) strategy, which aims to create a co-ordinated approach to the collection, analysis, interpretation, use and dissemination of surveillance data for guiding decision making on public health actions.

Methods: We used a monitoring framework recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-Atlanta to evaluate performance of the IDSR core indicators at the national level from 2001 to 2007. To determine the performance of IDSR at district and health facility levels over a 5-year period, we compared the evaluation results of a 2004 surveillance survey with findings from a baseline assessment in 2000.

A large outbreak of typhoid fever associated with a high rate of intestinal perforation in Kasese District, Uganda, 2008-2009.

Background: Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (Salmonella Typhi) causes an estimated 22 million typhoid fever cases and 216 000 deaths annually worldwide. In Africa, the lack of laboratory diagnostic capacity limits the ability to recognize endemic typhoid fever and to detect outbreaks. We report a large laboratory-confirmed outbreak of typhoid fever in Uganda with a high proportion of intestinal perforations (IPs).

Molecular epidemiology of influenza A/H3N2 viruses circulating in Uganda.

The increasing availability of complete influenza virus genomes is deepening our understanding of influenza evolutionary dynamics and facilitating the selection of vaccine strains. However, only one complete African influenza virus sequence is available in the public domain. Here we present a complete genome analysis of 59 influenza A/H3N2 viruses isolated from humans in Uganda during the 2008 and 2009 season.

A cholera outbreak among semi-nomadic pastoralists in northeastern Uganda: epidemiology and interventions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, many nomadic pastoralists have begun to settle in permanent communities as a result of long-term water, food, and civil insecurity. Little is known about the epidemiology of cholera in these emerging semi-nomadic populations. We report the results of a case-control study conducted during a cholera outbreak among semi-nomadic pastoralists in the Karamoja sub-region of northeastern Uganda in 2010.

Suspected outbreak of cutaneous anthrax in Kasese district, the investigation and response, April to May 2007.

Background: A report of suspected anthrax was submitted by the Kasese District Health Office to the Epidemiology Surveillance Division of Ministry of Health. A joint team comprising officers from MOH, IPH and MPH officers proceeded to the district to investigate the reported threat of anthrax. The investigations were conducted in Bwera HSD, Bukonjo West County, in communities bordering Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever associated with novel virus strain, Uganda, 2007-2008.

During August 2007-February 2008, the novel Bundibugyo ebolavirus species was identified during an outbreak of Ebola viral hemorrhagic fever in Bundibugyo district, western Uganda. To characterize the outbreak as a requisite for determining response, we instituted a case-series investigation. We identified 192 suspected cases, of which 42 (22%) were laboratory positive for the novel species; 74 (38%) were probable, and 77 (40%) were negative.

Cross-sectional survey of hearing impairment and ear disease in Uganda.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and causes of disabling hearing loss in adults and children in Uganda.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey of ear disease and hearing impairment.

Setting: A random cluster sample design of the population from the Masindi district of Uganda following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, using a modified version of the WHO Ear Disease Survey Protocol.