12 More Ebola Cases In Kagadi, 232 “Closely Monitored”

The Ministry of Health has Thursday evening announced that 12 new Ebola cases were yesterday admitted at Kagadi Government Hospital, confirming the virus is spreading rapidly and health experts could take more time than anticipated to stop it from killing Ugandans.

This brings the total number of admissions to 30 since the onset of the outbreak that started in Nyanswiga LCI in Nyamarunda Parish of Nyamarunda sub-county, Kibaale district in July.

The death toll remains at 16 as no new deaths have been reported since July 31.

“Among the admissions, two patients have been confirmed to have the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever while the rest are still suspects. The patients are receiving the appropriate treatment from the medical expert team consisting of officials from the Mulago National Referral Hospital, World Health Organization and U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention,” said Dr K Lwamafa, the Director General of Health Services.

“A total of seven more specimens were yesterday August 1st picked from the patients admitted at the isolation facility bringing the total number of samples collected since the outbreak to 37,” he further stated.

The samples are currently being investigated at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe.

He added a sample that was picked from a patient in Mbarara district tested negative, confirming that the person could have been suffering from another ailment.

“The Ministry of Health Surveillance team in Kibaale district is actively and closely following up to 232 people suspected to have got into contact with the dead and sick. These contacts have not shown any signs of the disease but continue to be monitored,” he further noted.

This implies a rise of suspected Ebola cases from yesterday’s 176.

In the meantime, Chimpreports.com has learnt that a suspected case of Ebola had been reported at Ibanda hospital, stoking tension that the western region could lose more lives to the deadly disease.

Lwamafa also revealed that an inter-ministerial committee on Ebola has been formed to coordinate the management of the epidemic.

The committee includes officials from the ministries of; Office of the Prime Minister; Tourism; Internal Affairs; Finance, Planning and Economic Development; and Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

“The Ministry of Health continues to urge the public to avoid unnecessary movements and gatherings especially in Kibaale and neighboring districts,” Lwamafa cautioned.

“The Ministry of Health response teams in Kampala are on the alert to respond to any suspect cases in and around Kampala. The Ministry of Health urges the public to be vigilant but not to create unnecessary fear and panic. All measures are being undertaken to control the spread of the contagious disease,” he concluded. http://www.chimpreports.com/index.php/people/health/5336-breaking:-12-more-ebola-cases-in-kagadi,-232-“closely-monitored”.html