The WHO and Uganda MOH Funny Numbers

PART 1. Funny Numbers Timeline

 WHO Official: Ebola Under Control In Uganda

by The Associated Press http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=157961606&sc=tw&cc=share

 You are now reading this headline all over the internet and on t.v. in Uganda and Kenya. It is a very happy story, but lets look a little deeper. The numbers don't add up. There should be more dead. This is because there were many sick and dead from the beginning of the outbreak,before they found out what is was.. A mutated strain that  was hard to identify due to lack of  bleeding. This is straight from their own mouths.
So now there are only 21 dead and there were that many mentioned more than a week ago. ALSO they have left out the 10 others that died in NTUNGAMO . They also now claim there have been no positive suspects or dead from any district other than Kibaale. This is not true. Where is their case list of the dead so far??

  This story first broke on July 24th

.. Information coming in from the District Health Officer indicates that 11 people from one family in Nyamarunda Sub County have died since the strange disease surfaced in the district...According to the District Health Officer, Dr. Dan Kyamanwa, the signs of the disease include; high fever, vomiting, diarrhea and systems failure. It kills patients within 4 days to a week. http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/kibaale-district-attacked-by-a-strange-disease-12-people-dead/26400.aspx

 If it was killing them that fast we should have a whole lot more dead than the 21 they admit too

2 days later the count was 16 dead ..The victims suffered form diarrhea,vomiting ,stomach ache and at the time of their death ,blood oozed from the nose and mouth...  http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/07/strange-disease-hits-kibaale-district16-dead-90586.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+UgandaPick+%28Uganda+News+Picks%29

July 27th
 we found out it had been going on since June21st. More than a month before we even heard about it.

The Ministry of Health is investigating a strange and contagious disease that has broken out in Nyamarunda sub-county in Kibaale district.
The Director General of Health Services Dr. D.K.W Lwamafa says surveillance reports from the investigations undertaken by the Ministry of Health, the district and international partners indicate that 21 people have been affected with 13 deaths since June 21.
The cases have been reported largely from one family in Nyansigwa village in Nyamarunda parish.
“Preliminary investigations show that it is a highly contagious disease that is transmitted from one person to another and can easily cause death,” says Lwamafa.
...
http://www.chimpreports.com/index.ph...-kills-13.html

by the 28th we were holding at 16 dead http://www.healthmap.org/news/uganda-reports-16-dead-mystery-illness-72612

it was on the 28th a WHO statement declaring ebola  ..Laboratory investigations done at the Uganda Virus Research Institute...have confirmed that the strange disease reported in Kibaale is indeed Ebola hemorrhagic fever," the Ugandan government and WHO said in joint statement.. http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Officials+disease+that+killed+people+Uganda+caused+deadly+Ebola/7005923/story.html

28th Ebola Sudan 21 people were affected with 13 deaths since June 21   http://www.chimpreports.com/index.php/people/health/5239-breaking-ebola-outbreak-hits-uganda.html

28th 13 dead were among 20 reported with the disease  It was 16

here the WHO SAYS IT STARTED IN EARLY JULY

Joaquim Saweka, WHO's representative in Uganda, said that although suspected Ebola infections emerged in early July in Kibale district, about 170 km (100 miles) west of the capital Kampala, the outbreak was not confirmed until Friday. http://news.terra.com/ebola-outbreak-in-uganda-kills-13-official,86604d4034ec8310VgnVCM5000009ccceb0aRCRD.html

At this time, the cases appear to be centered in Nyamarunda Sub County, Kibaale district, although one suspected victim is reported to have traveled to Kampala for treatment at Mulago Hospital where he subsequently died on July 22, 2012 http://kampala.usembassy.gov/emergency_07282012.html

also on the 28th the number of dead rises again to 17  here is where you pass the current death toll from today Aug 3rd

29th ..strange disease that has claimed 17 lives in the districts of Kagadi and Kibaale, a further two people have been admitted to hospital showing signs of the same symptoms as for those who have so far died. The strange disease which began to infect the districts last june has mostly claimed members of the same family http://www.youtube.com/ntvuganda

 The number fluctuates back to 13 and the Kampala suspect is discovered http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=41588

29th...The who says 20 cases and 14 dead ..All possible contacts that were exposed to the suspected and confirmed cases since 6 July 2012 are being identified for active follow up. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_07_29/en/index.html

29th  Patients did not show some typical symptoms, the health minister says

The lethal Ebola virus left at least 14 people dead http://edition.cnn.com/2012/07/29/world/africa/uganda-ebola-virus/index.html

29th  ..has killed close to 20 people http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/other-patients-run-away-from-hospital-for-fear-of-ebola/26491.aspx

29th  The health ministry says emergency measures are in place to deal with the outbreak, which began in late June but has only just been confirmed as Ebola

http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=41588

A total of 20 cases, including 14 deaths have been reported since the beginning of July 2012

30^th     Health officials spent weeks conducting laboratory tests that were at first inconclusive.

^{Joaquim Saweka, WHO’s representative in Uganda, said the origin of the outbreak had not yet been confirmed. “…}

http://www.ugandacorrespondent.com/articles/2012/07/deadly-ebola-wipes-out-family-of-12-kibaale/

The disease has spread to most areas in the district and reports indicate that it has so far killed 18 people out of the 20 admitted at Kagadi hospital.
More patients are being admitted each day and among them include a health worker identified as Margret Asaba who was working at Muhorro Health Centre III. http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/07/ebola-death-toll-rises-in-kibaale-district-49991.html

July 30 2012   Two cases have since been reported in the capital, with one victim reported dead in Kampala's Mulago Hospital, he said, calling on people not to shake hands to avoid the spread of the killer virus. http://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/ebola-virus-reported-in-kampala-1.1352055

HCW Muhumuza who treated most of the patients died on Tuesday at Mulago hospital, while her child died on Saturday http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Uganda+bans+physical+contact+as+Ebola+reaches+capital/-/688334/1466868/-/item/1/-/14ehdnqz/-/index.html

The fatal case in Kampala was a health worker who "had attended to the dead at Kagadi hospital" in Kibale, Health Minister Christine Ondoa told reporters.
She is believed to have travelled independently to Kampala -- possibly on public transport -- after her three-month old baby died, Ondoa added.
http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-warns-contact-deadly-ebola-reported-capital

The World Health Organisation(WHO) does not recommend any restrictions on travel to or trade with Uganda http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/6335...th-uganda.html

the death toll to 19 of which 18 were reported in Kibaale district http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/07/ebola-virus-hits-kampala-99367.html

http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/07/schools-close-over-ebola-outbreak-12627.html

14 deaths ..
According to the Ministry of Health of Uganda, the first case of Ebola was reported in Kagadi hospital on July 7, 2012 and since then, there have been 27 confirmed cases in total, the last two new cases within the last 48 hours.

http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/uganda-ebola-outbreak-information-bulletin-n%C2%B0-2?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

MoH: Ebola outbreak is contained The Ministry of Health and the World Health organisation have confirmed that they have managed to contain the latest Ebola outbreak in the country's Western district of Kibaale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O8FWJgOlcY

30TH July 2011

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
P. O. BOX 7272,
KAMPALA - UGANDA  ..It indicated that by 10th July 2012, despite many of the patients having received treatment from Emesco HCIII, Mugarama HCIII, Kagadi Hospital and St Ambrose, 10 of them had died.
Three samples taken from the dead confirmed Ebola to be present in their biological specimen..

death toll still remains at 14..

Tuesday, July 31 2012 at 01:00

Be calm, says Museveni as Ebola cases rise to 25 http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Be+calm++says+Museveni+as+Ebola+cases+rise+to+25/-/688334/1467258/-/item/0/-/3qb1mhz/-/index.html

July 31 (Reuters) 14 dead

Dan Kyamanywa, health officer for Kibaale district where the outbreak had started, told Reuters by telephone that villagers had called medical officials on Tuesday to report that two more people had died, including a 5-year old boy http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/31/uganda-ebola-idUSL6E8IVD0720120731

WHO spokesman, Tarik Jaserevic said at a press conference that so far have been detected 36 "suspected cases" of Ebola, of which four have been confirmed by laboratory tests.
http://translate.google.com/translat...111130593.html

Gregory Hartel expcts a 50 TO 60% death rate WHERE IS IT??

http://audioboo.fm/boos/903082-uganda-s-ebola-virus-outbreak-interview-gregory-hartl-world-health-org-who-on-rfi_english

There are now 36 suspected cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district, Uganda, of which 4 are laboratory-confirmed and 14 dead.https://twitter.com/WHO/status/230312612469022721

The minister of health, Christine Ondoa announced that the country was safe for all travelers

Chimpreports.com also understands that 19 new Ebola cases had been reported in Mubende district and nurses were turning away from patients in fear of contracting Ebola. http://www.chimpreports.com/index.php/people/health/5297-exclusive-crisis-as-ebola-encircles-uganda.html

total number of deaths to 16  http://www.newstimeafrica.com/archives/27393

July 31st   FIVE DIE IN NTUNGAMO WITH EBOLA LIKE SYMPTOMS http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44115#ixzz22Ddg1p00

 Ebola is reported in Mbarara District
..has been confirmed by the District Health Officer Dr. Amooti Kaguna who says the suspected Ebola case has been admitted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital with samples of stool and blood got from the patient and taken to Entebbe virus research institute for screening.
http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/a-case-of-ebola-is-reported-in-mbarara-district/26521.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Uganda_news+%28UGPulse.com+-+The+Pulse+of+Uganda%29

Medical officials from Kagadi hospital have rushed to Hoima and picked a nurse suspected to have been infected with Ebola.
The Nurse identified as Magaret Asaba is said to have attended the burial of Claire Muhumuza a clinical officer who died from Mulago hospital.  http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/health-official-in-kibaale-rush-to-hoima-to-pick-suspected-ebola-victim/26522.aspx

Ebola: Travelers shun Mubende-Kibaale route

Published on Aug 6, 2012 by ntvuganda

http://www.ntvuganda.co.ug/
Taxi and Coach operators along the Kampala- Kagadi route are lamenting of slow business since the outbreak of Ebola in Kibaale district. These operators told NTV that the number of passengers traversing that route has dramatically dropped due to fear of contracting the Ebola virus. Mean while the Kibaale District Health Officer Dan Kyamanywa says 29 out of the 36 suspected Ebola victims are be dischared after being tested Negative while 3 of the 7 remaining patients have been confirmed positive for the deadly virus.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rg2JLhDvy8

Lira district shuns scouting and guide national competition over Ebola outbreak

Lira district will not be participating in the national competition for ball games, scouting and guide taking place at Kazi camping site in Kampala over Ebola outbreak in Western Uganda.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44250#ixzz22ochmpVT

3 more Ebola cases detected

Tuesday, August 7 2012 at 01:00

In Summary

The latest on ebola

• Admissions. 36 people have so far been admitted on suspicion of having the varus
• Contact cases. 398 people are suspected to have got into contact with Ebola patients but of these, 295 has so far been followed
• To be discharged. 29 patients who were admitted on suspicion of Ebola and tested negative will be discharged from Kagadi hospital.
• More detected cases. 3 more people tested positive of Ebola.
• Funds needed. Shs3 billion needed by the Ministry of Health to fight Ebola. Shs627 million has so far been released

Three more people had by yesterday tested positive of the Ebola virus and were admitted to Kagadi Hospital, raising the number of confirmed cases to 13. Of these, six are still admitted, three have since died while four have recovered ever since the Ebola epidemic was declared.

The disease has so far claimed 16 lives inclusive of the 13 that died before the epidemic was officially declared. Health officials in Kibaale District said they had discharged seven patients, three of whom are inmates who were admitted on suspicion of suffering from Ebola.

“They have been given a resettlement package to help them re-unite with their families and live better lives,” Mr Stephen Mfashingabo, the vice chairperson of the District Ebola Task Force, said.

They are part of the 29 patients who tested negative of Ebola and are being released gradually from hospital. They are also accompanied by counsellors to re-unite them with their respective families.

Earlier on, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, the Kibaale District health officer, said those that had tested positive were already on treatment, while those that tested negative were being examined to ensure that they regain enough strength before they are discharged.  

“The 3 that tested positive have been put on treatment and are closely monitored by the disease experts. 29 suspected cases have tested negative and are currently being screened by our officials to see who is in good shape to go back home,” Mr Kyamanywa said. He added that Ebola contacts had increased from 353 by Sunday to 398 yesterday with medics following up 295 cases.

Not aware
However, Asuman Lukwago, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, told Daily Monitor that he was not aware of any new positive cases. “The information I have captures up to yesterday night (Sunday night). There is no new case of Ebola. In case of any new case, we shall officially communicate.”

In Kibaale, the State Minister for Health, Dr Christine Ondoa, said the continued presence of the Ebola epidemic in the district is likely to need more funds than earlier anticipated, with at least Shs3 billion needed to control the disease. 

It’s difficult to tell what outbreaks such as Ebola will cost because of their seriousness and complexity in managing them. The bills are so high. When I said we needed Shs3 billion, some people thought it was too much. But with what is happening, that is what we need,” Dr Ondoa noted during her visit to Kagadi Hospital.

She said that the ministry was worried of how to manage the disease due to the high cost of protective gears, disinfectants and gallons of detergents. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/3+more+Ebola+cases+detected/-/688334/1472870/-/12lgvn0/-/index.html

Siaya Suspected Ebola patient tests negative

Suspected Ebola patient tests negative
Monday, August 6 2012 at 23:30

A patient, who was admitted to Siaya District Hospital with symptoms similar to those of Ebola, has tested negative.

Nursing Officer Sylvester Ng’anda said the patient, who was treated of thrombocytopenia— a condition that leads to lack of plasma in blood vessels and results in bleeding— was discharged on Monday morning.

“That is the reason why the patient was bleeding from the gums and other openings. We have confirmed he is free from Ebola and there should be no panic,” he said.

On high alert

He denied claims  the patient was treated of venom after he was suspected to have eaten meat from a goat that had been bitten by a snake.

Meanwhile, Tanzania is on high alert as the government investigates two suspected cases of the viral disease in the North Western region, near the border with Uganda.

Deputy Minister for Health Seif Suleiman Rashid on Monday told Xinhua that a team of doctors had been sent to the region to investigate the two cases.

The two patients were admitted to Nyakahanga Hospital in Karagwe District, after they exhibited symptoms of the haemorrhagic fever. Dr Andrew Charles, who is charge of the hospital, told Xinhua on the phone that blood samples of one of the patients, a six-year-old boy, had been sent to Dar es Salaam for tests. Like HIV, Ebola is spread only through contact with infected body fluids. The disease has killed 16 people in Uganda
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Suspected+Ebola+patient+tests+negative+/-/1056/1472740/-/mgk3hl/-/index.html

Outbreak in Uganda (As of 06 August 2012)

     

Event description
6 August 2012 - The Ministry of Health in Uganda has reported a cumulative number of 59 suspected cases of Ebola including 16 deaths. Ten (10) cases have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe, of whom 6 were acute cases and 4 convalescent cases.
Currently 36 cases are admitted to an isolation facility in Kagadi hospital, Kibaale district, of whom 29 are in the convalescent ward and will soon be discharged.

Of the 398 contacts listed, 84 have completed 21 days, while 292 are still under active follow up. So far all samples from other districts have tested negative for Ebola. However a clinical officer who attended to a case in Kibaale district was transferred to Mulago Hospital in Kampala for treatment but later died. None of the seven health workers who attended to this fatal case has developed symptoms of the disease by day 16 of follow up. This indicates that there has been no expansion of the outbreak beyond Kibaale District.
Response
The Government of Uganda is continuing to work with a number of partners to control the outbreak.
At the central level the Prime Minister has established a Ministerial Task Force, chaired by the Minister of Health, to facilitate and coordinate the outbreak response. The Task Force addressed a well-attended press conference on Friday 3 August 2012.
In Kibaale district, the local health authorities are working through its task force with several partners to mobilize resources and supplies. These partners include WHO, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). WHO has deployed epidemiologists, infection control specialist, logisticians and supplies, including personal protective equipment (PPE) to Uganda.
Required funds for local operations are being mobilized. The government of Uganda has released 627 million UGX (approx. USD 250,000) to Kibaale district to support the response. Additional support is being received from the EMESCO Foundation (a local NGO), Members of Parliament from Kibaale district, the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) and World Vision.
With the support of MSF, the construction of a new isolation facility in Kagadi, Kibaale district has been completed. A ward for convalescent cases who are Ebola negative has been opened. The convalescent patients are receiving psychosocial support in preparation for discharge. WHO is supporting the provision of a discharge package to facilitate resettlement in the community?
Red Cross volunteers and village health teams are conducting social mobilization and public awareness activities. Additionally, public announcements are being disseminated in 11 local languages on 20 radio stations. WHO is facilitating the deployment of a medical anthropologist to assist in these activities.
Neighbouring countries
A number of countries neighbouring Uganda have taken proactive steps to enhance their surveillance to detect and respond to cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. The neighbouring countries of Kenya, Rwanda South Sudan and Tanzania have investigated rumors of suspected cases. Both Kenya and Rwanda have investigated the rumors and ruled out Ebola. The governments of Kenya and South Sudan have issued guidance to the general public and also activated their national task force to undertake enhanced surveillance. Tanzania is still investigating the rumors.

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions are applied to Uganda.  http://www.afro.who.int/en/clusters-a-programmes/dpc/epidemic-a-pandemic-alert-and-response/outbreak-news/3650-ebola-outbreak-in-uganda-as-of-06-august-2012.html

Kenya sets up Ebola center for Migingo visitors

            

Report

—

Kenya Daily Nation

By ELISHA OTIENO
Posted Monday, August 6 2012 at 11:29
Kenya has set up two surveillance centres on its shores to monitor possible spread of the Ebola virus from Uganda through the Migingo island in Lake Victoria.
The medical surveillance centre are based in Muhuru bay and Sori beach respectively to monitor visitors coming from the island.
Explaining the decision, the Nyatike District Commissioner Moses Ivuto said the high traffic of Ugandans passing through the island on their way to Kenya had prompted the decision.
The DC said Kenya's health officers will be visiting Migingo island regularly to conduct screening on people visiting the island, especially those from Uganda.
“ I want to assure the islanders and the security officers deployed there that they should not panic since the Government is on top of the situation,” said Mr Ivuto.
Kenyan fishermen and traders had complained that their Ugandan counterparts were trooping to the island in large numbers for fishing but were not being screened due to lack of medical personnel and equipment on the island.
“We are living in extreme fear of contracting the virus which may sweep us here due to lack of well-equipped medical facility. What we have is only one chemist selling the basic painkillers,” said Mr Tom Jairo , a fisherman.
The Kenyan traders spoke during a visit by officials from the Kenya police headquarters to assess the housing needs of the Kenyan security forces who are policing the island jointly with their Ugandan counterparts.
“ We want the Government to set up a screening centre in Migingo, complete with staff to take care of out safety,” added another fisherman Mr Malachi Otieno.
Migingo has a population of about 1,000 people working as traders, fishermen and prostitutes and who are mainly drawn from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Other islands in the lake being frequented by residents of the East African Community (EAC) include Remba, Ringiti, Mfangano and Lolwe.
Homa Bay District hospital has also been placed on high alert for Ebola after a middle-aged female patient exhibited symptoms similar to those of the dreaded disease.  http://reliefweb.int/report/kenya/kenya-sets-ebola-center-migingo-visitors?utm_source=Global+Crisis+Management+Community&utm_medium=twitter

Agency opens daycare centre for nodding kids

August 6 2012 at 01:00

Gulu District vice chairperson Isaac Newton Ojok helps a boy suffering from nodding disease to plant a tree at the newly-built day care centre in Aromo Wanglobo, Odek Sub-county on Friday. BY Moses Akena

A daycare centre meant for monitoring, education and research on the nodding syndrome has been opened in Aromo Wanglobo Parish, Odek Sub-County in Gulu District. The centre built by Gulu Hope, a non-governmental organisation based in the district, comes with a classroom, rest beds and medication wing.

“That way, we can help do some research that will open the way which can get a cure for the nodding syndrome,” Professor Sallie Baynton, the founder of Gulu Hope organisation, said at the weekend.
The centre will help to educate and take care of many of the children who have since dropped out of school due to the nodding syndrome.

For instance, in Aromo Wanglobo Primary School, of the 532 pupils that enrolled at the school, 165 of them have been diagnosed with the syndrome, with 12 deaths and 73 drop outs registered in about one year.
The head teacher, Mr Santo Okello, said the disease is a big burden. “It’s very difficult to take care of the nodding syndrome victims and worse still, it has brought a lot of fear to both the teachers and the pupils,” he said.

Many parents in the nodding syndrome inflicted areas have complained of..

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Agency+opens+daycare+centre+for+nodding+kids/-/688334/1471812/-/wm5v1p/-/index.html

Red Cross delivers relief for Ebola victims

Red Cross delivers relief for Ebola victims

Report

—

Uganda Red Cross

Written by Catherine Ntabadde Monday, 06 August 2012 04:42
By John L. Ssengendo-Branch Focal Person URCS Masaka

On Saturday 4th August, 2012, officials at Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale District received items from Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) as discharge package for the Ebola victims. The items were delivered by a team of URCS officials comprising URCS Morris Ayikanying the Senior Program Manager- Community Based Health and First Aid URCS, Paul Bitek- the Program Manager Community Based Health and First Aid and the Regional Program Manager Hoima Region, Fred Othieno.
These included plates, cups, mosquito nets, tarpaulins, and soap, blankets, water cans and mattresses. Each discharged patient will receive a package containing 2 blankets, 5 plates, 5 cups, 2 mosquito nets, 1 tarpaulin, 3 bars of soap, 2 water cans and a mattress.
To boost service delivery at the hospital, URCS has also deployed and trained 100 volunteers in precautionary practices, health safety and infection control practices of Ebola fever. The URCS volunteers have also been trained in social mobilization, sensitization and health promotion techniques. The training was conducted by World Health Organisation, Kibaale District and URCS experts.
URCS also supported the district with 60 sets of Personal Protective Equipment to enhance the logistics base of the response.
According to Fred Othieno, one URCS volunteer was assigned to the Ebola Alert Desk at the hospital, four volunteers are at the gate to disinfect visitors and staff. He further said four other volunteers are at the triage/screening center while 20 were deployed to work with the surveillance team.
URCS is the lead partner in social mobilization in communities, homes, markets and churches.
In addition, an Ebola Alert Desk has been set up to receive phone calls concerning any Ebola threats in the community. Phone numbers have been put up to this effect. These include 0774-451762, 0706-506294 and 0747-174555.

How it works at the Ebola Treatment Center at Kagadi Hospital

After an alert has been received, suspected cases are collected from the community and taken to Kagadi Hospital. These go through the triage/screening section before admitted to the respective wards. At this point, patients are examined and those suspected Ebola cases are then taken to the isolation center as they await their test results while normal cases are taken to other wards for normal treatment.
At the isolation center, patients are grouped in such a way that patients who await their test results are put in separate wards, confirmed Ebola cases are also put in a different isolation center for treatment while those responding to treatment and are recovering are placed in the recovery section awaiting discharging. This is basically to avoid any risks of infection and re-infection.
 Ebola situation in the country On July 28, the Ministry and WHO confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale District, over 200km west of Kampala.
The incurable disease, caused by a virus initially killed 13 people in Nyaswiga Village in Nyamurunda Sub County. The affected families initially thought it was either witchcraft or evil spirits. As of August 6, 16 people had died of Ebola. 36 people are admitted at the isolation centre with over 253 cases being followed up IFRC support URCS also applied for a Disaster Relief Emergency Fund worth 226, 659 Swiss Francs (Ushs588m) from the IFRC to support its response operations.  http://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/red-cross-delivers-relief-ebola-victims

Ebola Fear Hits Tanzania

Posted by suzank on August 6, 2012

Fear has engrossed Kagera officials in Tanzania after registering patients suspected to have the deadly Ebola disease.
According to one of the doctors who diagnosed the patient at Karagwe’s Nyakahanga hospital, preliminary findings show that the victim might have contacted the Ebola virus.
The doctor who requested anonymity told the Guardian on Sunday that ‘further medical examination’ would be conducted to gather more evidence about the possible outbreak of Ebola in the region, adding that the patient had since been quarantined pending final results.
The patient was brought on Friday morning and, upon diagnosis, it was established that the patient had suffered from Ebola. The patient who is a six-year-old child was brought to the Mulongo hospital by his mother from a village close to the Uganda-Tanzania boarder after the child developed severe symptoms.
A team of medical experts from Dar es Salaam was yesterday dispatched to Kagera region to further examine the two patients believed to be suffering from the Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare subsequently confirmed the outbreak of the deadly fever in the western part of the country. Confirming the reports, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Seleman Rashid, also said that a team of medical experts was still diagnosing a patient in efforts to establish the symptoms.
In the meantime, reports from Nyakahanga designated hospital in Karagwe district, Kagera region indicate that there were two patients including a child, suspected to be suffering from the deadly fever that has rocked neighbouring Uganda.In Uganda at least 17 people have succumbed to Ebola virus.   http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/08/ebola-fear-hits-tanzania-22648.html

Suspected Ebola samples of 6 yr old sent to Chief Chemist

Suspected Ebola samples sent to Chief Chemist

Monday, 06 August 2012 09:22

By Lilian Lugakingira, The Citizen Correspondent Bukoba. Samples from a patient believed to have contracted Ebola, have been sent to Dar es Salaam for study. At the same time, the government through the ministry of Health and Social Welfare has urged Tanzanians to stay calm as it works to verify the samples in order to establish if the said patient has contracted the disease, which of late has been ravaging neighbouring Uganda. The six-year old patient has been admitted to Nyakahanga District Hospital in Karagwe, after showing symptoms which resemble those of Ebola. The Karagwe District medical officer, Dr Andrew Cesari, said yesterday that the samples were dispatched to Dar es Salaam yesterday. He said the samples were taken by experts from the ministry who arrived in Karagwe yesterday to make a follow up. “We received five experts from the ministry of Health... we have already conducted preliminary analysis of the sample which have been forwarded to Dar es Salaam for detailed analysis to establish what has affected that particular patient,” he said. Dr Cesari added that although the samples have been forwarded to Dar es Salaam, experts from the ministry are still on the ground and they will visit various areas to check over the possibility of ebola eruption. On the condition of the patient, he said she was doing fine and all symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea as well as body bleeding have been controlled. “But she is still under close supervision from medical experts,” he said, noting that there was no cause for alarm as the situation has been put under control. As a precaution, Dr Cesari said people should not transport any patient who would show such symbtoms. “Any patient who shows such symptoms should not be touched and we should be notified immediately. We will go anywhere after getting informed of such cases,” he said. He noted that since the disease can be transmitted through skin contact, it is advisable to avoid touching such patients. “Sending such a patient in a public transport will expose many people to risk of contracting the disease,” he elaborated. Meanwhile, a ministry of Health and Social Welfare official, Mr Nsachriss Mwamaja, said yesterday that the public should not panic over the Ébola reports as every precaution was being taken to ensure that the disease is controlled. He said once the checks are completed in Dar es Salaam, the government would publish the results. He said people living along the border with Uganda have been trained on the symptoms of the disease and what to do once they detect it. He also said equipment for containing the disease have already been sent to the area. Additional reporting by Geofrey Nyang’oro  http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/24647-suspected-ebola-samples-sent-to-chief-chemist

Ugandan Ministry of Health Ebola Update (5th August).wmv

Published on Aug 5, 2012 by OPM Uganda

Ugandan Commissioner of Health Service, Dr. Anthony K. Mbyone, provides a further update on the recent Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nUHh0Bqktg&feature=plcp&noredirect=1

21 ebola dead in Uganda

Psychologists join Ebola teamPublish
 Date: Aug 06, 2012

• 
• 
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By Vision Reporters

A combined team of psychosocial experts from Mulago and Butabika hospitals in Kampala has arrived in Kibaale district which has recorded several cases of Ebola heamorragic fever.

Psychosocial intervention is the process of helping meet a person’s emotional, social, mental and spiritual needs to decrease the traumatic consequences of disasters.

Twenty-one people are believed to have succumbed to the deadly haemorrhagic fever, although only three of them were confirmed positive for the virus that causes Ebola.

The cause of death of 16 of the initial cases was never established because their blood samples were never collected for testing since their bodies had already been buried.

The remaining five of the 21 are said to have died over the weekend, four in the community and one at the isolation centre. Test results from the samples of the deceased people had not been ascertained by yesterday, but their sicknesses presented with the symptoms exhibited by those who had been found with Ebola. All the five were buried by the health teams.

While inspecting Kagadi Hospital on Saturday, the health minister, Dr. Christine Ondoa, announced that risk allowances for the health workers involved in the fight against Ebola will be increased. So far, one health worker, her baby and younger sister are the three people who succumbed to the disease.

Ondoa, the World Health Organisation representative, Dr. Joaquim Saweka and the director general of health services, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, visited the hospital.

Finance state minister and area MP Matia Kasaija also visited the hospital.

According to Ondoa, her ministry needs sh3b to help in the fight against Ebola.

She said the ministry’s resources have been stretched by different epidemics that have been breaking out.

The Ministry of Health’s spokesperson, Rukia Nakamatte, said there were no new Ebola deaths. She said samples from 24 out of the 36 people, who were admitted in the isolated facility at Kagadi, have been found negative of the Ebola virus.

She said another 351 people were listed for follow up, 291 of whom are already being followed up, although they are not admitted.

The follow-up period lasts 21 days and if no symptoms have manifested by the end of that time, one is declared Ebola-free.

The case that was suspected in Amuria has also turned out to be negative of Ebola http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/633793-psychologists-join-ebola-team.html

Four Suspected Cases of Ebola Reported in Kenya VIDEO

The Dr says Uganda patients aren't bleeding at all, so just cuz they are bleeding in Kenya doesn't mean they have ebola..

Aug 5, 2012 by kenyacitizentv

Kenya's ministry of public health is yet again assuring the nation that so far there has been no confirmed case of Ebola in Kenya. this, even as four suspected cases have been reported in the past week alone, with the latest being a 24 - year - old woman in Homa Bay county, who was bleeding from several body openings. Neighbouring Uganda has in the past week been battling an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus which has so far killed 16 people, but Ugandan health authorities now say the situation has been contained. Given the Ebola scare in different parts of the country, what exactly should one look out for? Sally Mbilu has the details.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuPzGtDwFm0

Uganda is not yet Ebola-free, says ministry

Monday, August 6 2012 at 01:00

The Ministry of Health yesterday said the country is not yet free from Ebola and asked the public to adhere to the recommended preventive measures in order to safe guard against the deadly disease, which has so far claimed 16 lives and dozens admitted to hospitals.

However, the Health ministry spokesperson, Ms Rukia Nakamatte, urged the public and visitors to the country to remain calm as a consortium of health experts have joined the fight. “Ebola is still around but people should be calm because the situation is under control. It is important that everyone adheres to the recommended practices and preventive measures so that we do not register new cases.

We are running advertisements about all the recommended practices,” Ms Nakamatte said on telephone.

 Ms Nakamatte said two new suspected Ebola patients were yesterday admitted to Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale District. This increased the officially reported Ebola cases to 36, of which 24 patients had by yesterday tested negative but were still closely monitored by health officials to clear any further doubts and fears.

The rise in the Ebola cases tally comes at a time when there are continued inconsistencies in how the whole Ebola outbreak is being handled.

Allowances
In Kibaale, about 150 health workers, community volunteers and drivers who were deployed to handle the Ebola epidemic had to strike on Saturday over unpaid allowances, only to resume work the following day after getting assurance that their money had been wired on the district account and would be paid out today (Monday).

“Please all your monies are available but we would not make payments today because the process was delayed in crediting the funds on our account by the health ministry,” Mr Emmanuel Ssenoga, the Kibaale Chief Administrative Officer, told the striking group.

Far still, this newspaper was reliably informed that most victims of this highly contagious hemorrhagic fever continued to seek divine intervention through prayers only to turn to hospitals when the disease had reached chronic levels.

Dr Isaac Kakibugu, a medical officer in Kagadi Hospital, said patients resorted to sneaking from the hospital to be prayed for and later die in the community. “We missed the opportunity at the peak of the epidemic. They come and don’t give us the chance to investigate because they have a tendency to spend most of their time in prayer places yet this epidemic started in a prayerful family,” he said.

More support
Meanwhile,...
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Uganda+is+not+yet+Ebola+free++says+ministry/-/688334/1471936/-/118upk8/-/index.html

Ebola sex ban

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbWfu3lWP_E&list=UUTV7C2Zx1AqYw-CD0DJd3Ug&index=1&feature=plcp

Uganda: National Rugby Sevens Suspended as Ebola caution

Uganda: National Rugby Sevens Suspended
The Uganda rugby fans will have to wait a little longer before they can quench their thirst for rugby action as the national Rugby 7s has been suspended for an unspecified period.
Uganda Rugby Union (URU) put off the competitions that were meant to kick off on Saturday after recommendation from the medical society over the Ebola fever that has hit the country.
"We got recommendation from the medical society to put off the games and there is no way we could risk such huge crowds in situations of such a deadly epidemic," URU secretary, Alex Kalimugogo confirmed the development.
URU medical society vice chairman Dr. Sam Guma explained that their recommendation came as a matter of national urgency.
"As medical practitioners our priority is lives of people being safe and we are monitoring the situation together with the ministry of health and if the situation is okay then we shall report to URU to fix the date for the tournament," he said.
Kalimugogo however denied claims that it was because of a financial crisis that forced the union to put off the games.  http://allafrica.com/stories/201208050540.html

3D Ebola pic

Ebola Case Reported in Kenya VIDEO

Another Suspected Ebola Case Reported in Kenya

Published on Aug 5, 2012 by kenyacitizentv

Fear has gripped Nyakwar village in Homa Bay County after a girl exhibited Ebola Like symptoms.The 24 year old was on Saturday admitted to the Homa Bay District Hospital with symptom similar to those of the haemorrhagic fever. The girl was rushed to the hospital after falling ill but while in hospital reportedly started bleeding from body openings. According to the family of the fourth form student, the girl complained of excruciating pain in the body that was followed with diarrhea before starting to vomit blood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ywle3iHxXUI

Deadly Ebola virus hits Uganda [CNN 8-04-2012] VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vihVUaHRqkc#!

Ebola Fear Starts to Spread

Sunday, August 05, 2012 
Today a team of medical experts from Dar es Salaam that were sent yesterday to Kagera region to examine to patients said to be suffering from the Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Meanwhile the Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Seif Seleman Rashid, confirmed the outbreak of the deadly virus in the western part of the country.
Reports from Nyakahanga designated hospital in Karagwe district, Kagera region, pointed out that two patients including a child are suspected of being sick from the hemorrhagic fever. Upon the confirmation of the disease the patients have been isolated. It has not been confirmed that the fever is spreading beyond its borders.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has alerted Tanzania of the Ebola threat, prompting its ministry to make the press statement and take the right precautions.
Doctors and the district health workers from the Kagera region have started to warn people in the surrounding villages to take precaution measures whenever they come across such patients

http://www.ecuadortimes.net/2012/08/05/ebola-fear-starts-to-spread/

Uganda Ebola on rise‎- Video

Aug 4, 2012 by WorldNewsBulletin

http://www.youtube.com/WorldNewsBulletin
World News Bulletin
Plz Subscrib for Latest News
The new cases bring the cumulative total of those infected to 33, including 16 who have died since the outbreak of Ebola virus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gv3VGjaxgLY#!

Ebola fear hits Kagera

A team of medical experts from Dar es Salaam was yesterday dispatched to Kagera region to further examine the two patients believed to be suffering from the Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

But as the team of medical experts was sent to Kagera region, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare subsequently confirmed the outbreak of the deadly fever in the western part of the country. Confirming the reports, the Deputy Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Seif Seleman Rashid, also said that a team of medical experts was still diagnosing a patient in efforts to establish the symptoms.

In the meantime, reports from Nyakahanga designated hospital in Karagwe district, Kagera region indicate that there were two patients including a child, suspected to be suffering from the deadly fever that has rocked neighbouring Uganda.

According to one of the doctors who diagnosed the patient at Karagwe’s Nyakahanga hospital, preliminary findings show that the victim might have contacted the Ebola virus.

However, the doctor who requested anonymity told the Guardian on Sunday that ‘further medical examination’ would be conducted to gather more evidence about the possible outbreak of Ebola, adding that the patient had since been quarantined pending final results.

[link to www.ippmedia.com]

19 Suspected Ebola Patients Test Negative As WHO Beefs Up Management Efforts

Samples of the other patients are yet to be returned. Doctor Kyamanywa says the 19 patients have now been moved to the convalescent ward which separates them from those who are positive and those whose status is yet to be determined.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44261&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter#ixzz22gdMwIgn

Inside the Ebola Ward: On the Front Lines in Uganda

REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK by DR. RICHARD BESSER (@DrRichardBesser)

KAGADI, Uganda, Aug. 5, 2012

I just emerged from the ebola ward. Inside there are three patients with confirmed ebola infection and another 15 or so who are awaiting test results.
I suited up in full protective gear, so that not an inch of skin was showing. An expert from Doctors Without Borders oversaw my suiting-up. He has worked on five ebola outbreaks and was meticulous in his care: he carefully adjusted my mask and hood to protect me from any body fluids that might spatter. It was too dangerous for my photographer-colleague Alex to come in, so I shot with a little camera which we left behind.
The ward is a typical African medical setting, dimly lit with light filtering through the windows. It is an open room, like an army barracks, broken into three sections, with interior walls about 2 feet high. The protection suits are incredibly hot. You can only work in them for about 40 minutes. More than that and you will get dehydrated. There's no way to drink water when you are wearing this suit...

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ebola-outbreak-uganda-abc-news-medical-editor-dr/story?id=16933520

DREF operation n° MDRUG029

Disaster relief emergency fund (DREF)

Uganda: Ebola epidemic

DREF operation n° MDRUG029

GLIDE n° EP-2012-000124-UGA

3 August 2012

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Disaster Relief Emergency Fund

(DREF) is a source of un-earmarked money created by the Federation in 1985 to ensure that immediate

financial support is available for Red Cross and Red Crescent emergency response. The DREF is a vital

part of the International Federation’s disaster response system and increases the ability of National

Societies to respond to disasters.

CHF 197,205 has been allocated from the IFRC’s

Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support

the Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) in

delivering immediate assistance to 900,000 people

in Kibale District and 4 surrounding districts (with

a media campaign),646,700 people in Kibale

District (with health promotion campaigns), 2,500

high risk people (with house-to-house contact

tracing and follow-up), 900 people at risk of

stigmatization (300 discharged from hospitals and

their 600 family members with psychosocial

support and NFI kits), 200 hospital staff (with

personal protective equipment), and 220

volunteers (with training in epidemic control and

psychosocial support) over 3 months. Unearmarked

funds to repay DREF are encouraged.

Personal protective equipment ready to be delivered

from URCS to Kibale Distict/ Photo URCS

Summary:

An outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever was confirmed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and World Health

Organization (WHO) on Friday, 27 July 2012 in Kibale district in Western Uganda. By Monday, 30 July 2012,

there were 36 suspected cases of Ebola, with 14 deaths. More cases have continued to be reported in the

affected area, with some being admitted in Kagadi hospital. There are fears that the disease has spread

beyond Kibale. One suspected case was referred by ambulance to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, and died on

22 July 2012. Hospital staff handling the case are being monitored according to protocol and have so far not

displayed any signs of the disease. The full extent of the outbreak is not yet established but is expected to be

clearer after the assessment that started on Saturday, 28 July by a team of MoH, WHO, United States

Centre for Disease Control (CDC) and URCS. The outbreak has been confirmed to be Ebola (Sudan type)

and more laboratory tests continue to be done to further establish the characteristics of this outbreak.

A Uganda Red Cross Society Task Force has been established that will work closely with the Ministry of

Health’s established Task Force consisting of a number of agencies including WHO, Medecin Sans Frontiers

(MSF), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Africa Epidemic Network (AFINET) and other

development partners to coordinate local and international efforts to provide medical supplies and to assist

with transport and personnel.

A total of 220 URCS volunteers have been mobilized and are receiving a refresher training to support the

dissemination of information about the disease and its transmission in Kibale, as well as in Kampala and

other at-risk districts. These volunteers will provide support to the vulnerable communities in tracing and

follow-up of the contacts of the suspected/confirmed cases. Some of these volunteers will also be involved in

psychosocial support, rehabilitation and distribution of Non Food Item (NFI) kits to survivors.

This DREF operation will support Uganda Red Cross Society to reach communities and individuals in Kibale

and the surrounding districts as well as in Kampala as follows: 

Table 2: Ebola situation as at 30

th July 2011:

No. Name of Sub County Cases Deaths

1 Matale 1

2 Mugarama 3 1

3 Nyamarunda* 18 12

4 Kibale T/C 5

5 Bwikara 4 1

6 Muhoro 2

7 Kyabsdima 1

8 Kagadi 2

Total 36 14

*One case referred from Nyamarunda died in Mulago Hospital in Kampala

Coordination and partnerships

In Kibale, a district task force has been set up to help coordinate the response efforts at district level.

Table 3: Members of Kibale District task force:

Sector Lead Agency

Coordination and resource mobilization District Health Officer (DHO)/Respective

stakeholder NGOs

Case management DHO/MSF/WHO

Logistics management DHO//Respective stakeholder NGOs

Community surveillance DHO/ District Education Officer (DEO), URCS

Social mobilization, Information and Education

Communications (IEC)

District Health Educator (DHE) and

URCS/Respective stakeholder NGOs

Burial team/Security and Safety DISO

A similar coordination mechanism at national level has been established at the Ministry of Health

headquarters where URCS is duly represented. The National task force will be meeting every day at 9:00

am at MoH to review and discuss progress of the implementation.

The Ministry of Health and the District Health Team (DHT) remain the main interveners, while humanitarian

agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, international and local NGOs as well as URCS, are being mobilized to act

in partnership to support the district in the response.

These coordination mechanisms help in drawing epidemic response plans, resource mobilization, and in

providing operational guidance that supports resource sharing and avoids duplication of efforts.

An isolation centre has been set up at Kagadi Hospital and by Monday, 30 July 2012, ten (10) suspected

cases had been admitted in the unit. MSF (Holland) is on board and helping in case management and

overall treatment at the established isolation unit. Through the National task force, a refined case definition

has been worked on and shared with stakeholders. The district task force meetings will also help in

developing guidelines on preventing further spread, managing public gatherings during such epidemics, and

burying corpses of the infected.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

Kibale Branch conducted a joint assessment with the District Health Office, Ministry of Health and WHO that

highlighted the magnitude of the emergency and is guiding the disease control actions.

The branch also mobilized 220 volunteers, readying them for engaging communities with disease control

activities and psychosocial support. The society has also dispatched the available personal protective

equipment (PPEs) to Kibale District to support the case management team and volunteers with their work on

the ground. One senior staff and the regional manager have moved to Kibale to support training of URCS

volunteers by mid week so that the volunteers are ready for action in the community by Friday 3

rd August

2012. IEC materials for community education and sensitization are being reviewed and updated by the social

mobilization sub-committee of the National task force and will be ready for production by Wednesday, 1

August 2012, and also ready for distribution by the end of the first week of August.

URCS has played a central role in previous EHF outbreaks, with its network of trained volunteers

participating in the efforts aimed at controlling these outbreaks.

The needs

Selection of people to be reached:

This operation aims to support the Uganda Red Cross Society in

delivering immediate assistance to: 646,700 people in Kibale District (with health promotion campaigns),

900,000 people in Kibale district and 4 surrounding districts (with a media campaign), 2,500 high-risk people,

(with house-to-house contact tracing and follow-up), 900 people at risk of stigmatization (300 discharged

from hospitals and their 600 family members with psychosocial support and NFI kits), 200 hospital staff

(supported with personal protective equipment), and 220 volunteers (with training in Epidemic Control for

Volunteers-ECV and psychosocial support).

It is estimated that the intervention will need to follow-up over 500 possible cases before the end of the

outbreak and an estimated 2,500 contacts of these suspected cases that have to be monitored for 21 days

so that those that develop symptoms are adequately referred for isolation and treatment.

The people suspected to be infected will usually have any household property that may have come in

contact with their body fluids buried or destroyed, and this will certainly result in a need for essential

household items to be provided to these families for their daily livelihoods. The provision of non-food items

(NFIs) will therefore require approximately 300 NFI kits.

Because of the nature of the disease, there is bound to be stigma and discrimination attached to these

families and therefore the URCS intervention will from the onset target a psychosocial support system for

300 patients discharged from hospital and 600 of their family members.

URCS will build capacities of the volunteers and community members to recognize suspected cases and

report them to the authorities.

Needs assessments have revealed that there is a shortage of PPE in government health facilities for use by

health professionals and volunteers during community activities. On 1 August 2012, Ebola National Task

Force meeting held in Kampala, the need for PPE was identified as one of the key priorities for health

facilities around Kibale and surrounding districts. Ugandan health workers are treating patients with other

illnesses (cholera, malaria, etc.) without PPE. The only way to get the doctors and nurses to look after

patients is to avail them with PPE for reassurance.

The proposed operation

The operation will mainly focus on engaging community based volunteers to undertake intensified health

education and promotion campaigns at household level to improve on community knowledge of the

symptoms and signs of the disease and the procedure to follow while protecting household members and

ensure appropriate referral of suspected cases. The contacts of the suspected cases will be followed-up by

volunteers on a daily basis to monitor the development of symptoms so that those that develop symptoms

are immediately referred. The IFRC ECV toolkit shall be employed to facilitate effective EHF control

interventions where trained volunteers will be facilitated to conduct health promotion campaigns, active case

search, follow up of contacts and referral suspected cases.

In order to reduce risk of wide transmission of the epidemic, mass media and other forms of culturally

acceptable and context-specific IEC campaigns will be employed to promote a wide knowledge and

awareness about the disease, its risks of transmission, actions to take for suspected cases and preventive

measures. This will target the whole of Kibale District and surrounding areas since there is significant

population movement to and from the affected area. The total population of the district is 646,700 people that

will be targeted with the IEC and mass media messages.

URCS will deploy staff from the branch and regional offices as well as technical staff from headquarters to

train volunteers and provide technical support for the planned EHF interventions. The capacities of staff ,

including members of the Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) and the health specialist in ECV, as

well as local capacities in Kibale District departments of Health will be utilised to provide guidance and

support to the field activities.

The National Society Headquarters in Kampala, in line with the IFRC East Africa regional representation

office in Nairobi, will organize with the field teams to participate in the monitoring of the implementation of the

Ebola operation. The Red Cross regional board representatives and the local board members will also...   http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/MDRUG029.pdf

Vietnam tightens border control due to bird flu fears

//03 Aug 2012
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked authorities, especially those in border provinces, to tighten inspections and control of poultry imports in an attempt to halt a bird flu epidemic.
"Development of the disease is becoming complicated in Vietnam and other countries in the world, urging measures to ensure better control of imported poultry, especially poultry that is smuggled into the country," he said.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Animal Health Department, bird flu has re-emerged in 20 provinces and cities across the country since the beginning of this year.
Link here...

[link to www.worldpoultry.net]

More on Tanzania Ebola suspect

It’s red alert over possible Ebola case

Send to a friend

Sunday, 05 August 2012 02:42

By Joas Kaijage, The Citizen Correspondent Bukoba. A state of alert has been imposed along the Tanzania border with Uganda following fears over a suspected outbreak of Ebola in Kagera Region. However, medical personnel said the case was yet to be confirmed until samples from a six-year-old boy admitted to Nyakahanga hospital in Karagwe will be sent for further laboratory tests in Uganda. In an exclusive interview with The Citizen on Sunday, the Karagwe District medical officer, Dr Elias Mayala, said the patient from Nyakatuntu Village has been under quarantine in an isolated room at Nyakahanga hospital awaiting confirmation of the tests. In the interim, Dr Mayala said, district authorities had mounted a strict surveillance of the Mutukula and Murongo border posts. This includes deployment of medical personnel to stop the disease from spreading to Tanzania. He said among other routines, the medical personnel at the border posts were responsible for holding awareness raising meetings on the deadly disease. They were also ensuring that they detect early enough possible cases among visitors crossing to the other side. He said along with the efforts, local FM radio stations in the area have been engaged in disseminating messages on prevention. They are especially used to create awareness of its symptoms and how it spreads among border communities. “In fact, it is not correct to say there is an outbreak of Ebola following this particular suspicion, but strict measures are inevitable to stop the disease from spreading to our side,” said Dr Mayala. Since the reported incident, authorities in Karagwe have also been carrying out investigations to uncover more information. They wish to know whether there is any other related cases near the village in Kieran District where the victim allegedly comes from. An employee at the Nyakahanga hospital, who declined to be named because he was not the spokesperson, said the admitted Ebola- suspected child was placed under quarantine along with his mother. The employee said the child had clear signs of Ebola, including bleeding profusely through his ears and nose when relatives brought him to the Karagwe District Designated Hospital. http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/40-sunday-citizen-news/24625-its-red-alert-over-possible-ebola-case.html

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (10): (KIBAALE) 17TH FATALITY

A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

Date: Fri 3 Aug 2012
Source: New Vision via AllAfrica.com [edited]
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208040122.html


Uganda: Ebola - Death Toll Rises to 17
--------------------------------------
One more person is suspected to have died of the deadly Ebola virus in Kagadi hospital, while another 2 patients have been admitted to the hospital's isolation ward today. "The patient had been admitted in the isolation ward, with signs of having contracted Ebola. But, he unfortunately died in the evening, on arrival in the isolation ward," Dr. Dan Kyamanywa, who is Kibaale's district health officer, revealed.

This brings the death toll to 17, and the suspected patients admitted to 31, according to Dr. Kyamanywa. Only 2 patients out of those admitted were on Wednesday confirmed to have contracted Ebola; 3 others were earlier this week also confirmed to have contracted Ebola, after laboratory tests were conducted. A total of 7 more specimens were taken on Wednesday [1 Aug 2012] from the patients admitted at the isolation facility bringing the total number of samples collected since the [beginning] of the outbreak to 37, according to Dr. Lwamafa. Results are to be released soon.

The samples are currently being investigated at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe. The health ministry's surveillance team in Kibaale district is actively and closely following up 232 people suspected to have been in contact with the dead and sick. They continue to monitored even though they have not showed any symptoms of the disease yet.

More so, in Kibaale district, one of the prisoners, who had been admitted to the isolation ward, escaped and is yet to be found. An inter-ministerial committee on Ebola has been formed to coordinate the management of the epidemic.

More dead birds in Vietnam #H5N1

..Up to Date 4-8, in the city of Hai Phong avian influenza has appeared in the An Lao district, Vinh Bao, Kien Thuy, Kien An district and diameter. The city had 66,800 birds were killed and forced to destroy the bird flu. Particularly on 2 and 3-8, the bird flu outbreak in the ward are constantly appearing Most Blessed (District diameter), and Thuan Thien Huu Bang (Kien Thuy district).
Functional departments recommend that people carry out self-protection measures, to prevent disease spread to humans.  Before bird flu situation is complex and changes are likely to be spread out wide, 3-8, Hanoi People's Committee has asked the Public power districts, towns and strengthen advocacy dangerous levels and control measures against avian influenza to persons transporting, slaughtering and trading poultry and poultry products that voluntarily made. Perform aggressive, coordinated, effective preventive measures against bird flu epidemic. In particular, must be clear responsibility for each organization or individual, head of government at all levels, in the prevention of disease in the area ...  http://www.nhandan.com.vn/cmlink/nhandandientu/thoisu/doi-song/i-s-ng-tin-chung/n-ng-nong-tren-di-n-r-ng-t-i-cac-t-nh-b-c-b-va-trung-trung-b-1.361184

Thailand-BMA on rabies alert after rabbit bites family

5/08/2012at 02:18 AM

Health officials are fanning out to contain a rabies threat in Chom Thong district after members of a family were bitten by a pet rabbit infected with the virus.

Deputy Bangkok governor Malinee Sukvejvorakij said the family's members were given rabies injections after their pet rabbit died and posthumously tested positive for the virus.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) health authorities will meet tomorrow to identify the source of the rabbit's rabies infection so they can prevent a possible epidemic.

Their search will probably include a trip to Chatuchak Weekend Market, where the infected rabbit was bought.

....Mr Samruay said the dead rabbit, named Poko, was one of two rabbits he bought from Chatuchak Weekend Market late last year.

The other rabbit, a female, died from diarrhoea shortly after it arrived at their house. Poko, a male, then exhibited strange behaviour after the family bought a second female rabbit from the Sanam Luang II market in Thawi Watthana district, Mr Samruay told Dr Phinai.

Mr Samruay said Poko began biting the feet of family members starting around June 10. The family eventually had to put the rabbit in a kennel.

Mr Samruay's son bled after being bitten by Poko while feeding the rabbit _ he has since received anti-rabies shots.

The animal died on July 28. The next day, the female rabbit also died.

Mr Samruay's family suspected Poko carried rabies and sent its carcass to the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute for examination. The rabies test came back positive. The female rabbit's carcass was not sent for examination.

Mr Samruay and his family received shots from the hospital, but he worried he may have received the injection too late as he was bitten several days before. http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/306009/bma-on-rabies-alert-after-rabbit-bites-family

Dr Malinee said he knew of no rabies infections to have been reported among rabbits in Thailand before this case.