already 6
Tuesday, October 23 2012 at 01:00
KABALE/KAMPALA
Two more people suspected to be carrying the Marburg virus were yesterday admitted to Rushoroza Health centre III, bringing the number of those admitted to four.
Another 40 people are under surveillance, according to health officials in Kabale district where Marburg was first reported last week.
Two people; a child and an adult, were on Sunday admitted at Rushoroza Health Centre III where an isolation centre has been established. Yesterday, two more suspected cases were admitted at the centre.
One of the people admitted is Mr Obed Tutegyerize, a relative of the five people who have since died of the disease. Mr Tutegyereize was taking care of them at Kabale Referral Hospital but fled to Rukungiri for prayers after developing the same illness. Doctors on Sunday traced him from Bikurungu Village in Bwambara Sub-county in Rukungiri District, where he had gone to see a witch doctor.
The identities of the other three have not been revealed as doctors say they are waiting for results to confirm the tests. “Four people including a secondary school girl are currently admitted at the isolation centre and their blood samples have been taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for testing,” Dr Patrick Tusiime, the Kabale district health officer and the co-chair of the Marburg task force, said yesterday.
Holding activities
Meanwhile Kabale University has called off its graduation ceremony which was scheduled for this weekend after Marburg was reported in the district, the Vice Chancellor, Ms Joy Kwesiga, announced yesterday.
Meanwhile Kabale University has called off its graduation ceremony which was scheduled for this weekend after Marburg was reported in the district, the Vice Chancellor, Ms Joy Kwesiga, announced yesterday.
This follows warnings from health experts to the public to limit crowded gatherings.
In Kampala, Ms Sharon Twinomujuni, who was admitted to the hospital’s isolation camp on October 19 after she tested positive for Marburg is responding to treatment, according to hospital officials.
In Kampala, Ms Sharon Twinomujuni, who was admitted to the hospital’s isolation camp on October 19 after she tested positive for Marburg is responding to treatment, according to hospital officials.
Ms Twinomujuni is a relative of one of the five people who have already died from Marburg.
The commissioner for National disease control in the Ministry of Health, Dr Dennis Lwamafa, cautioned the public, especially in the affected area against movement saying this could further spread the disease, but also it could be hard to trace suspected cases.
The commissioner for National disease control in the Ministry of Health, Dr Dennis Lwamafa, cautioned the public, especially in the affected area against movement saying this could further spread the disease, but also it could be hard to trace suspected cases.
“One of the patients came from Kabale to Kampala and after a few days he travelled back to Rukungiri, although we have managed to trace him but he has expanded the transmission stretch,” Dr Lwamafa said.
