Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has revealed that recent student deaths were not caused by a new deadly malaria strain. Speaking in Parliament, Baryomunsi said Uganda’s malaria surveillance has not detected any change in the malaria parasite, dismissing fears that a more dangerous strain could be behind the recent deaths of learners. The minister confirmed […]
Health Minister Dr. Chris Baryomunsi has revealed that recent student deaths were not caused by a new deadly malaria strain.
Speaking in Parliament, Baryomunsi said Uganda’s malaria surveillance has not detected any change in the malaria parasite, dismissing fears that a more dangerous strain could be behind the recent deaths of learners.
The minister confirmed that four learners in Kampala Metropolitan Area died from severe malaria, including two students from Makerere College School, one from Mengo Senior Secondary School and one from Gayaza High School.
He said the Ministry of Health, together with the Ministry of Education, is strengthening malaria prevention in schools through faster diagnosis, emergency referral systems, health training for school administrators and plans to deploy school nurses.
Baryomunsi also revealed that government is rolling out the malaria vaccine among young people, including school-going children, as part of efforts to reduce severe malaria infections.
“This surveillance has not detected any change in the virulence of the parasites currently circulating in the country. Plasmodium falciparum remains, as it has for decades, the dominant species in Uganda, accounting for approximately 97 per cent of infections,” Baryomunsi said.
He said the recent student deaths were not linked to a new malaria strain, but rather to an immunity gap among urban learners who have had less exposure to malaria due to reduced transmission levels.
But, he explained that some people naturally attract more mosquito bites than others.
He said there are several factors that make some individuals more attractive to mosquitoes, increasing their risk of contracting malaria.
“Pregnant women attract mosquitoes compared to those who are not pregnant,” Baryomunsi told MPs
He explained that biological changes during pregnancy can make women more likely to be bitten. According to the Minister sweat, high or warm body temperatures attract mosquitoes .He explained that the science that people who emit more carbondioxide attract mosquitoes, raised body temperature, sweating which releases lactic, uric acid and amonia.
The minister also said there is evidence that people consuming alcohol, especially beer, may attract more mosquitoes than those taking non-alcoholic drinks.
He explained that if two people sit in the same place with mosquitoes around, the person drinking beer may receive more mosquito bites compared to someone taking water or juice.
Baryomunsi made the remarks while presenting a statement to Parliament on concerns over severe malaria cases among students in urban boarding schools.
