Makerere University Lung Institute has revealed that Uganda is experiencing an increase in infections of flue, cough, and other respiratory-related diseases out of the peak season when they are expected.

This was revealed by Professor Bruce Kyerenga, the Chief Research Scientist and founding director of the Makerere University Lung Institute, during the annual Scientific Conference of Physicians (ECSACOP) in East, Central, and South Africa.

Kyerenga also revealed that in one of the studies, where they sampled 3800 patients after seeking treatment for acute respiratory illness from hospitals across the country, 3.8% were found to have the flu virus.

Dr. Lydia Nakiyingi, the president of the Physicians Association of Uganda, said that while there is a surge in flu and other respiratory infections, the kinds of infections here are not as bad as those in the western world, where the vaccines are developed and can be efficiently handled.

“One of the ways to prevent the disease is through vaccination. We know that respiratory infections are one of the commonest conditions that we have, especially in Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The most common ones are tuberculosis and infections like pneumonia and infections that cause flue. The kinds of flue that we still have in Uganda are not as bad as compared to other strains of flue in other continents like Europe and America because of the good weather,” said Nakiyingi.

 The 9th Annual ECSACOP has been running from August 29 to August 31, 20204 at the Mestil Hotel and Residences, Kampala, Uganda. 

It provides a venue for discussions and presentations that could eventually contribute towards improved methods for preventing infections through improved health care delivery and the utilisation of findings from studies.

The conference stresses collaborative and equitable health care delivery, involving discussions on bolstering health care systems and practices that could assist in managing infections.