On October 22, 2010, MSNBC writer, Godfrey Olukya, reports the growing epidemic of the rot of flesh (medically known as Tungiasis) by small insects colloquially referred to as 'Jiggers' in Uganda Africa. According to James Kakooza, Uganda's minister of state for primary healthcare, Jiggers kills many young children, and shortens the life of many adults, by burrowing into the skin, sucking their blood, and causing the flesh to rot. This article consists of comments from the natives of Uganda, and public health, and government officials. Tunga penetrans, commonly known as Jiggers, are small insects with similar characteristics to that of the common flea. They are the reason so many Ugandans, and people from parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa are infected with the flesh rotting disease each year. The Jiggers burrow into a person's body, suck the blood, wax and multiply by the hundreds, and cause parts of the body such as the feet, the hands, buttocks, lips, and even the eyelids rot away.
"For the last three years I have been suffering from Jiggers. I lost two children killed by Jiggers," said a sixty year old Ugandan man. The disease killed at least twenty Ugandan people, and infected over twenty-thousand in the short time span of two months. Ministry of Health official in eastern Uganda writes, "It is common the find graves of whole families wiped away by Jiggers."
Though such a horrific disease seems to have symptoms written by Stephen King himself, there is hope. Kakooza says, "It is an epidemic which we are fighting against and I am sure over time we will eradicate the Jiggers." Like many problems that occur in dense poverished areas, the recurring factor is the lack of sanitation. "We are also telling them to use medicated soap. They can apply petrol and paraffin in places infested by Jiggers and they die," said Kakooza.
Unfortunately, the disease continues to spread throughout Africa and other continents, by way of travel and trade. The Jiggers like to live in dirty and dusty areas, and can easily survive on ships and transport trucks. The Ugandan government set aside one-million US dollars to fight the growing epidemic. It require topical medication, and the removal of the insects.
Personally, this article reflects the startling pain Africa feels everyday. The author describes images of people walking around on all fours and wailing in agony. I find it very interesting that the Ugandan government has only set aside one million dollars to contribute to the eradication of the insects. It absolutely makes me question the worth of material things against the simple health of our geographical brothers and sisters.
This article is very interesting. I have never heard of jigger bugs before. It is interesting that these bugs can survive on transport ships and vehicles and burrow into people's skin. It is a quite disturbing disease seeing that they infect your skin. With malaria infceting many people in Africa, another insect related disease, is not welcoming news.
ReplyDeleteThis article grabbed my attention because it is completely new to me. I’ve never heard of jiggers, nor a disease where insects suck your blood and cause skin to rot. While reading the post, it made me wonder what would happen if Jiggers outbreaks started occurring in the USA. It seems logical that it may happen, considering the US receives imports from Africa and the Jiggers can “easily survive on ships and transport trucks.” If an outbreak of Jiggers ever did occur, I am sure that the US government in team with scientists would be able to get rid of it. This makes the devastation it causes Africa even worse knowing that there is a way to eliminate it.
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