Publish Date: Nov 04, 2012
Until recently, Tutegyerize’s family was seen as the most progressive household in Rwabirundo village, Kitumba sub-county, Kabale district. When a strange illness killed four members of the family, including a university lecturer, many blamed it on witchcraft by envious neighbours.
Tutegyerize, a secondary school teacher and agricultural scientist, was looking forward to a family re-union and thanksgiving this Christmas because it had been a good year for the entire family. “We knew God had started doing amazing things in the family and we believed it would continue in the coming years.”
His sister first became sick in July 2012 and was admitted at Rugarama Health Centre. She was treated for typhoid and brucellosis and she recovered.
In mid-September, Tutegyerize’s brother, Bernard Rutaro, returned from Ibanda where he was teaching. After one day at home, he complained of headache and fever, he was rushed to Rugarama Health Centre. He died three days later. Doctors failed to detect the cause of death.
Eleven days later, on September 28, Tutegyerize developed fever, headache and vomiting. He was treated unsuccessfully at a clinic before being referred to Rugarama hospital, where he was treated for malaria unsuccessfully.
“When I was at Rugarama, Mummy also became sick and was brought to the same hospital. She passed away on October 4. I was in a critical condition and did not know when Mummy died. I got to know it after her burial.”
Tutegyerize was eventually transferred to Kampala for further treatment. Meanwhile, family members kept dying. Eventually, health workers established that it was Marburg. Tutegyerize tested positive and was moved to the isolation centre, where he says, life was hell.
“On my first day, I was given one meal. I am told they were still organising since I was the first person there. On the second day, they delivered breakfast at midday, lunch at 5:00pm and dinner towards midnight. It is real isolation, you feel lonely, think a lot and can get weaker. You have no one to talk to.”
He remained in isolation until eight days ago when he was discharged. Doctors say he is Marburg-free and will therefore not infect others.
Today, he has been co-opted into the Marburg task force to help with educating the public about the disease. At least nine people, including a health worker, have died of Marburg in five districts (Kabale, Kampala, Ibanda, Mbarara, Kabarole) since the outbreak in September. http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/637017-marburg-survivor-narrates-ordeal.html
