"The test results from CDC in Atlanta, USA, on the two cases admitted at Mulago Hospital last month confirmed Botulism," said Dr. Sam Zaramba, the director of general health services, in a statement on Tuesday.
"Botulism is a disease caused by toxic bacterium, Clostridium botulinum, transmitted by consumption of improperly prepared or handled food products," Zaramba explains.
"Such food products include improperly fermented, salted or smoked fish and meat products, inadequately processed home-canned or bottled low acid foods such as vegetables, and in defective commercially canned foods.
"Current evidence from the investigation suggests that the foods consumed by the affected girls a few hours or days before the onset of the illness was contaminated by the botulism toxin.
"Symptoms of botulism...include 'double vision', drooping eyelids, slurred speech, swallowing with difficulty and muscle weakness," Dr. Zaramba said.
The ministry ruled out earlier speculation that the deceased student must have been a victim of food contaminated by poison at her Seeta High School's kitchen.
"If it was the case there would have been mass infections among the student population," Health ministry averred.
Since the confirmed test, epidemiologists and other health specialists at CDC and World Health Organisation (WHO) are carrying out further investigations to establish the potential source of intoxication.
Dr. Zaramba said that botulism was not contagious and could be prevented through proper handling of foods including proper refrigeration, avoiding the purchase of canned foods that are expired, or damaged, bulging or in perforated containers.
"The toxin can be inactivated by boiling food for at least 10 minutes," he said, calling on parents, school administration and students to exercise care while preparing foodstuffs.
Kampala - 18/11/2008
Pana
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