Speaker
Description
Background: Anthrax is endemic in Uganda’s cattle corridor. During December 2025–March 2026, Kazo District reported 135 human anthrax cases, including 14 PCR-confirmed cases and two deaths, following repeated sudden livestock deaths. We assessed the timeliness of outbreak detection, notification, and early response using the 7-1-7 framework.
Methods: We reviewed records and interviewed district health, veterinary, and surveillance officials. We assessed detection within 7 days of outbreak emergence, notification within 1 day of detection, and completion of key response actions within 7 days of notification.
Results: The first human case developed symptoms on 10 December 2025. Detection occurred 35 days later, missing the target. Notification occurred within 1 day, meeting the target. Key response actions were completed 10 days after notification. Delays were due to poor reporting of livestock deaths, delayed care-seeking, low anthrax suspicion among health workers, weak human-animal surveillance linkages, resource constraints, and slow coordination. Existing reporting systems enabled timely notification, while district response capacity and deployment of the national rapid response team supported outbreak control.
Conclusion: Delayed recognition of livestock and human health signals slowed detection and response. Strengthening integrated surveillance, community reporting, health-worker awareness, and access to response resources could reduce delays in future outbreaks.
Keywords
7-1-7 framework, Anthrax, outbreak investigation, one health, Uganda
| Registration ID | OHS26-136 |
|---|---|
| Professional Status of the Speaker | Graduate Student |
| Junior Scientist Status | Yes, I am a Junior Scientist. |
Authors
External references
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