The Ministry of Health and the Livestock and Fisheries on Monday announced an outbreak of Rift Valley fever in Yirol East, West and Awerial Counties of Eastern Lakes State.
The declaration preceded a joint high-level advocacy mission led by the Minister of Health, Dr Riak Gai Kok and UN agencies, Bakhita Radio reports.
Laboratory tests conducted by the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed that six human blood samples out of 34 collected were positive for Rift Valley fever.
Minister of Livestock and Fisheries James Janka Duku says in responds to deaths, abortions among goats, sheep and cows, three were tested positive in South Africa out of 21 samples collected.
Evans Liyosi, World Health Organization or WHO representative, says financial contributions from donors allowed them to deploy experts and provide technical and logistical support including prepositioning assorted medical supplies.
He adds that WHO has facilitated the establishment of a multi-sectoral rapid response to investigate and prevent further spread of the disease.
Liyosi says they also effectively coordinate the response and support state authorities with surveillance, risk communication and case management.
Rift Valley is a viral disease that primarily affects animals, but also has the capacity to infect humans.
People get the virus through contact with blood, body fluids, or tissues of virus-infected animals, mainly livestock.