In Summary
Checking spread. Health officials have issued hotlines that members of
the public can contact in case there is a suspected Ebola case. These are:
0774451762, 0706506294 and 0757174555
President Museveni yesterday urged the public to remain calm but take
precautions as the cumulative number of people infected with the Ebola
hemorrhagic fever reached 25.
Some 14 people have died since the disease broke out about three weeks ago.
However, only three of the dead have been confirmed to have died of Ebola,
according to the Ministry of Health.
President’s note
“The Ministry of Health people are tracing all the people that have had contact with the victims,” Mr Museveni said. “They have for instance put under quarantine all the seven doctors that dealt with one of the people who came to Mulago and died there as well as the thirteen health workers who were accompanying them. They are following up all the cases.”
Another seven people are admitted to hospital while seven doctors and
13 medical workers who responded to the outbreak of the disease are being held
in quarantine.
In a public statement released yesterday, President Museveni urged the public
to desist from physical contact, such as shaking hands, in order to prevent a
further spread of the disease.
The President noted in his statement that one of the patients had died at
Mulago hospital where they had been brought for treatment, but said health
workers were working to contain the outbreak.
President’s note
“The Ministry of Health people are tracing all the people that have had contact with the victims,” Mr Museveni said. “They have for instance put under quarantine all the seven doctors that dealt with one of the people who came to Mulago and died there as well as the thirteen health workers who were accompanying them. They are following up all the cases.”
The statement adds: “The Ministry of Health has already announced the fact
that samples taken from sick people and those who died were confirmed at Entebbe
as Ebola. I appeal to you to first of all report all cases which appear to be
like Ebola.”
The number of Ebola patients in Kibaale District rose from three to
seven yesterday and all were being held in an isolation ward at Kagadi
Hospital.
Health ministry spokesperson Rukia Nakamatte said virologists at the Uganda
Virus Research Institute were analysing blood samples taken from those
admitted.
The new cases registered by the Ebola health team are from the
sub-counties of Rugashali, Bwamiramira and Muhorro. In order to contain the
outbreak, the Health ministry yesterday announced a ban, effective immediately,
from referring Ebola patients from Kibaale District to Mulago Hospital in
Kampala.
No panic
The World Health Organisation said yesterday it did not recommend advising against travel to Uganda as a result of the Ebola outbreak.
Nevertheless health officials have issued hotlines that members of the public can use to report suspected cases of Ebola.
“The disease must be handled locally to contain the spread and we cannot
accept this stampede at Mulago because all services will be at standstill,” Dr
Dennis Lwamafa, the commissioner for services, said yesterday.
Kibaale District has formed an Ebola task force headed by the district
chairperson, Mr George Namyaka, to lead the response to the outbreak.
No panic
The World Health Organisation said yesterday it did not recommend advising against travel to Uganda as a result of the Ebola outbreak.
Nevertheless health officials have issued hotlines that members of the public can use to report suspected cases of Ebola.
According to WHO these are: 0774451762, 0706506294 and 0757174555
A statement from the health ministry yesterday said teams of experts were undertaking disinfection control at the wards and the isolation facility at Kagadi Hospital.
A statement from the health ministry yesterday said teams of experts were undertaking disinfection control at the wards and the isolation facility at Kagadi Hospital.
“The hospital has set up burial committees to manage burials of
people suspected to have died of Ebola. The committee has been oriented on
burial procedures and infection prevention and control. This is one of the
control measures to control the spread of the highly contiguous disease.”Mulago
Hospital has also been put on standby with an isolation camp in case any cases
are reported in Kampala and neighbouring districts.
“Once again the Ministry of Health calls upon the public to stay calm as all possible measures are being undertaken to control the situation.”
Ebola, which manifest itself as a Hemorrhagic fever, is highly infectious and kills quickly. It was reported in 1976 in Congo and is named after the river where it was recognised.
“Once again the Ministry of Health calls upon the public to stay calm as all possible measures are being undertaken to control the situation.”
Ebola, which manifest itself as a Hemorrhagic fever, is highly infectious and kills quickly. It was reported in 1976 in Congo and is named after the river where it was recognised.
Ebola outbreak: dos and don’ts
- Report and immediately and take any suspected patient to a nearby health unit
- Avoid direct contact with body fluids of a person suspected to be suffering from Ebola by using protective materials like gloves and masks
- Disinfect the bedding and clothing of an infected person
- Persons who have died of Ebola must be handled with strong protective
wear and buried immediately, avoid feasting and
funerals
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Avoid eating dead animals especially monkeys - Avoid public gathering especially in the affected district
- Burial of suspicious community deaths should be done under close
- supervision of district health workers
- Report all suspicious deaths to the health workers
- Avoid feasting at funerals
- Avoid shaking hands, kissing, and blood exchange with untested blood.http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Be+calm++says+Museveni+as+Ebola+cases+rise+to+25/-/688334/1467258/-/item/0/-/3qb1mhz/-/index.html
