Ebola claims nurse in line of duty

Ebola claims nurse in line of duty

Claire Muhumuza (L) and her family friends recently. PHOTO BY FRANCIS MUGERWA

By Francis Mugerwa (email the author)

Posted Wednesday, August 8 2012 at 01:00

In Summary

Tragedy. Claire Muhumuza, a nurse at Kagadi Hospital and her four-month-old baby died of Ebola which she contracted after attending to a patient with the highly contagious hemorrhagic fever.

Two weeks ago, Claire Muhumuza woke up and did domestic work before reporting for duty at Kagadi Hospital to attend to patients as she had done for over a decade.
Muhumuza, just like her family, could not anticipate that one of the patients she would attend to was infected with Ebola. At this time, the disease had not been diagnosed.

The disease, which was reported as a strange illness in the media, had killed 13 people from one family in a matter of days. A resident of Nyanswiga Village in Nyamarunda Sub-county, who was admitted with high fever, vomiting and having diarrhoea later turned out to have the highly contagious Ebola hemorrhagic fever, which has killed 17 people and dozens are still hospitalised but are out of danger.

“When she returned home, she told us that she was puzzled by the excessive diarrhoea of one of the patients she attended to. She suspected the patient to have cholera,” Mr Joseph Kasigwa, Muhumuza’s brother in-law, said.

Her relatives said she washed herself with Jik detergent when she reached home and encouraged other family members to do the same as a preventive measure against cholera.

After three days, she developed fever and took anti-malarial drugs. Her situation only got worse. She developed diarrhoea, her eyes turned red and she began vomiting.
Misfortune
Several doctors in private clinics and at Kagadi Hospital attended to her both at her home and later at Kagadi Hospital. As her situation deteriorated, she was referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital, where she died on July 20 after two weeks of illness. She was buried on July 22 in Kahooro Village in Bwamiramira Sub-county.

The demise of Muhumuza has had huge impact on her family.

“Life has changed. People shun me. They think I also have Ebola. I feel traumatised and stigmatised,” Mr Posiano Zahura, her husband, said. Mr Zahura, a records assistant in Kibaale District’s planning unit, said he used to live with his wife and three children in Kagadi Hospital’s staff quarters but after medical confirmation that she died of the highly contagious disease, health workers have restricted his movements and their former residence has been condoned off.

“All our household items are locked in the house. I cannot access ATM cards and other necessities because I am not allowed to access that house anymore,” Mr Zahura said.
He has retreated to his ancestral home in Kyomukama Village in Kagadi Town Council, about five kilometres from Kagadi town, on the Kagadi-Isunga-Kibaale Road.

But even in the village, he claims neighbours have shunned his home. As he rehabilitates his house, he has an uphill task of accessing building materials.
“When I send a boda boda to buy for me cement or any other materials, he does not return. No one is willing to give me a lift. I feel troubled,” he said.

The District Health Officer, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, said Mr Zahura is among the over 200 people who got exposed to Ebola patients and are under close surveillance.
Muhumuza had initiated some development projects in the community.

She founded Kweyamba Group-Kamiranjojo, a savings and credit association where she was also a treasurer. Her death has left members of the association stuck since she was the principal signatory to the account. They are due to hold talks with bank officials on how to access their savings.

Family
Muhumuza was due to baptise Milka Ninsiima, her four-month-old baby in August. Ninsiima also died of Ebola. Besides her husband, she is survived by two children: Tony Agondeze,13, a Primary Seven pupil at Quality Primary School and Crispus Asasira, a Primary Five pupil at St Jude Primary School, Buseesa.

“She wanted me to join the seminary and become a priest. I will struggle to fulfill her dream, ” Agondeze said. Muhumuza joined the civil service in the 1990s as a nurse and has been married to Zahura since 1994.

Her husband is wondering how he will care for the children given that their late mother did so diligently and used to pay school fees for them. “Before she died, she told me that her children should keep in school and that all her assets are for them,” Mr Zahura said.

“We have lost our dear one. She was more than a mother. She would also an earn income for the family. We request government to give us some compensation,” he said.
The vice chairperson of the District Ebola Task Force, Mr Stephen Mfashigabo, said the family’s request for compensation will be forwarded to the health ministry for consideration. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Ebola+claims+nurse+in+line+of+duty/-/688334/1473700/-/qm3dw2z/-/index.html

U.S. Embassy Kampala, Uganda Message for U.S. Citizens Ebola Outbreak Update

Message for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Kampala, Uganda
Message for U.S. Citizens
Ebola Outbreak Update
August 7, 2012
This Message for U.S. Citizens traveling and residing in Uganda is an update to the Emergency Message on July 28, 2012, regarding the confirmed case of Ebola virus in Uganda. Local and international media continue to report additional suspected cases of Ebola. The Ugandan Ministry of Health, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and international partners are monitoring and responding to the situation. As of August 5, 2012, there are a total of 52 cases associated with the outbreak, of which 16 have died. There are currently 36 people hospitalized in Kibaale District, of which 29 have recovered and have been moved to a convalescent ward. Of the total cases, six cases of Ebola virus have been confirmed by laboratory testing. At this time, the cases appear to be centered in Nyamarunda Sub County, Kibaale district. One probable case was transported from Kibaale district to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, where she subsequently died on July 22, 2012. Though suspect cases have been reported from a number of districts, all tests, to date, from these other districts have been negative.
In order to control the spread of the Ebola virus, the U.S. Government is collaborating with teams from the Ministry of Health and international partners to identify individuals who have been in contact with the people suspected or confirmed to have Ebola and obtain samples from those who had contact with victims. This includes those exposed in Kibaale as well as those potentially exposed at Kampala’s Mulago Hospital. The 7 Mulago health workers under observation in Kampala are not showing symptoms of Ebola.
Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids (blood, urine, saliva, etc.) of an infected person or the body of an infected person who has died, or by direct contact with items (bedding, clothing) contaminated with bodily fluids.
In addition to the information on protecting yourself from the Ebola virus provided in the July 28 Emergency Message, the CDC has released an Outbreak Notice and Advisory on the current Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda, available here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/outbreak-notice/ebola-uganda-2012.htm.   http://kampala.usembassy.gov/emergency_8072013.html

Tshikapa: an unknown epidemic kills 14 Congolese returned from Angola

 |Last Update August 7th, 2012 at 8:25
Not yet an epidemic has already killed fourteen known Congolese among three thousand and fourteen returned to Angola via the border crossings and Kandjaji Tshitundu, localities 180 km south of the town of Tshikapa (Kasai Occidental). Local sources indicate that these Congolese out of Angola voluntarily flee the spread of this disease manifested by bloody diarrhea in communities Tshinguvu, Lukata and other mining areas of Lunda North
Reliance on the report of the health zone Kamonya, the chief medical officer of health district Tshikapa, Jean-Pierre Okambio, says the health status of three patients supported by the hospital Kamonya developing positively.
 Jean-Pierre Okambio also asked health services operating at the border to take steps to prevent the spread of this epidemic unknown.
  Local health authorities say that the patients reported are already supported in hospitals near the borders. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=fr&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://radiookapi.net/actualite/2012/08/07/tshikapa-une-epidemie-inconnue-tue-14-congolais-retournes-de-langola/&usg=ALkJrhgB0F1dwCreVSUzH2mc7eaW3ClNaA

Avian Flu linked to seals dying off along the N.H. seacoast

August 07, 2012 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — Scientists studying why more than a hundred harbor seals died along the New England coastline last year have released a new report that shows the seals perished as a result of a new strain of avian flu capable of being transmitted from birds to mammals, possibly humans.

The report — Emergence of Fatal Avian Influenza in New England Harbor Seals — was released Tuesday by a team of experts tasked with uncovering why 162 young seals turned up dead on Seacoast beaches including Hampton Beach, last fall.

 

In the report, researchers identify the cause of death as an influenza A virus "H3N8," a new strain of the bird flu that can jump from birds to marine mammals, such as seals and sea lions.

The report was made possible by scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, New England Aquarium, the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, SeaWorld and EcoHealth Alliance.

Research findings

Simon Anthony, a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University, was the lead author of the study.

"When initial tests revealed an avian influenza virus, we asked the obvious question: how did this virus jump from birds to seals?" Anthony said.

The report states that the emergence of new strains of influenza virus is always of great public concern, especially when the infection of a new mammalian host has the potential to result in a widespread outbreak of disease.

"This outbreak is particularly significant, not only because of the disease it caused in seals but also because the virus has naturally acquired mutations that are known to increase transmissibility and virulence in mammals," the report states.

W. Ian Lipkin, director of the Center for Infection and Immunity and John Snow, professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health, said the findings reinforce the importance of wildlife surveillance in predicting and preventing pandemics.

"HIV/AIDS, SARS, West Nile, Nipah and influenza are all examples of emerging infectious diseases that originated in animals," he said. "Any outbreak of disease in domestic animals or wildlife, while an immediate threat to wildlife conservation, must also be considered potentially hazardous to humans."

Katie Pugliares, a senior biologist with the New England Aquarium's rescue program, also assisted in the new report.

Pugliares said that while the study indicated that the newly identified virus can be passed to mammals, so far there is no indication that humans are capable of contracting it.

"We don't believe this particular strain is harmful to people because of the number of personnel we had handling them — nobody got sick," she said.

Pugliares said at this point experts believe H3N8 is a mutation from a strain of bird flu, which is something she said happens, but only on rare occasions.

"Viruses mutate so they can jump from one host to the next," she said. "What's alarming is that it was able to mutate and adapt to mammals."

How die-off began

Pugliares said she remembers exactly when the surge in seal deaths became apparent last fall. It was a Wednesday evening and a beachgoer in Seabrook had called in to report a dead seal on the beach, according to Pugliares.

"(The beachgoer) took a photo and sent it to us," she said. "We immediately saw that something interesting was going on with that one animal."

Red flags began to pop up when experts noticed the dead seal appeared to be in good condition, Pugliares said. Shortly after receiving the image from the beachgoer, Pugliares said a staff member from New England Aquarium was dispatched to Seabrook to see what else he or she could learn.

While en route to the beach, Pugliares said the Boston-based aquarium got a phone call from an employee at a surf shop in Rye reporting that surfers were bumping into dead seals floating in the water.

When experts arrived at the local beach, Pugliares said six dead seals were found scattered across the sand. While dead seals washing ashore is considered routine, Pugliares said it was clear something strange was happening.

.....

Then, in December, Pugliares said experts discovered that an Influenza A-type virus was responsible for the seal deaths.

"It was at that point that we knew this was an infectious disease," she said.

Scientists tasked with identifying the virus then determined that the next closest flu came from a species of birds that was identified in 2002.

Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration then declared the seal deaths an "unusual mortality event," which prompted attention at the national level and eventually resulted in the recent study.

On the lookout

The late summer months are perhaps the busiest times...   http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120807/NEWS/208070346/-1/NEWSMAP

Report From The Front Lines In Uganda

August 5 But now a new challenge strikes our community. As you may have read in the news, there has been an outbreak of ebola in western Uganda which is affecting our communities. It was first reported about two weeks ago but since then several people have died. Others have been taken to a quarantined areanear the Hospital. The disease is just in our area and at our health center we have had few suspected cases as mentioned above. We are trying to engage some protective measures for our staff but the problem is that we do not have real protective gear. They have only been supplied to the government Hospital – not to the outlying clinics like ours.
The impact of the Ebola outbreak on us as nurses and other health workers at our facility is that we are working under a lot of risk and fear for our lives because we do not have enough protective gear as we should. For example, one medical worker who had been very involved in the care and treatment of the first people who died of Ebola in recent weeks also died. The health center administration is trying its best to provide some gear but it is hard to get enough due to financial constraints as it was not something that was planned for. The task force team that was set up at the neighboring government hospital promised to give us some gear more than a week ago but we have received nothing up to now. Yet we continue to handle a lot of suspected cases including pregnant mothers.

We imagine that soon movement will be limited or prohibited to avoid infection. So the health center may have to look into a possibility of transporting the nurses instead to the villages to reach out to the mothers if we are to attend to them. I do not know if the health center will manage such extra expenses.
http://everymothercounts.org/blog/201208/report-front-lines-uganda

Uganda: Police Conducts Ebola Sensitisation in Kampala

7 August 2012
The Police have embarked on an anti-Ebola awareness drive within Kampala to restrain the spread of the deadly virus in the city.
The programme involves the dissemination of basic facts about the epidemic and aims to equip the masses with knowledge on how to avoid contracting the deadly disease.
According to the Kampala Extra Police spokesperson, Ibin Ssenkumbi, the campaign is to be conducted in Police stations in Kampala city and it will pass-on basic information about the epidemic like the symptoms and how to handle suspected patients.
"The awareness exercise is being conducted at Police Stations in Kampala city and is intended to enable the public to identify, handle and report any cases of Ebola," Ssenkumbi on Tuesday.
The exercise comes against the background of an Ebola outbreak in Kibaale district that has necessitated the entire nation to respond through preventive measures such as mass sensitisation on the epidemic.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201208071224.html

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (13)

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (13)
*************************************
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org

[1]

Date: Tue 7 Aug 22012
Source: Times Live, South African Press Association (SAPA)/Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) report [edited]
http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/2012/08/07/uganda-ebola-outbreak-under-control-who


An outbreak of the deadly ebolavirus in Uganda, which has killed 16 people has been stemmed, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) official

The outbreak started in western region of Kibaale in the East Africa nation in July [2012]. Some 300 people who were in contact with those who were infected are likely to still remain under observation.

"The cases are now confined only to Kibaale. The [ebolavirus] outbreak is now under control. But there is need to make follow-ups of the contact cases. Surveillance should be intensified over these cases because we can only be sure that they are safe after 21 days," Solomon Fisseha, WHO deputy head in Uganda, told SAPA DPA press agency. The outbreak had forced hundreds of schools to close and in the worst affected areas even social gatherings were banned.

This is the 4th outbreak of [ebolavirus] in the country since 2000, when it killed 224 people. About 40 people died of the disease in villages along the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2008, while another isolated death occurred last year [2011, in Uganda]. Ebola [hemorrhagic fever], which has no known cure, is highly infectious and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and external and internal bleeding. It was first identified in 1976 in Congo near the River Ebola.

[Byline: Henry Wasswa]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail


******
[2]
Date Tue 7 Aug 2012
Source: New Vision (Uganda) [edited]
http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/633833-29-cleared-of-Ebola.html


A total of 29 people in Kibaale district, who were initially suspected of having contracted a deadly ebolavirus [infection], have been cleared to return home, the Health Ministry has said. Of the 36 cases that are in isolation, only 3 have been confirmed to have ebolavirus [infection], the Health Ministry spokesperson, Rukia Nakamatte, told New Vision online. She said health experts are still monitoring the condition of those that will be discharged before allowing them to return home. However, 9 were discharged on Monday [6 Aug 2012], New Vision has learnt. "We are finalising plans to allow 29 of the cases to return home because they tested negative for ebolavirus," she said.

Nakamatte explained that while no new cases have been recorded, the ministry surveillance team is still on high alert. Nakamatte also disclosed that health experts were monitoring 398 cases believed to have come into contact with people who died of Ebola [hemorrhagic fever]. Of these, 84 have passed the 21- day period during which signs of infection would have shown, although they are still being monitored.

Dr Joseph Amonye, the national coordinator of the Ebola task force, said the samples taken from these people were negative and there was no reason of confining them at the isolation centre. "We have tested their samples and found out that they do not have Ebola [hemorrhagic fever]," said Amonye.

Meanwhile, Mulago Hospital has discharged a suspected Ebola patient who was admitted at the isolation camp. Speaking in an interview with the press at Mulago, the hospital's executive director, Dr Baterana Byarugaba, said: "This suspected patient had gone to Kibaale. He developed features similar to malaria and people thought that he had Ebola [hemorrhagic fever]. But we have since established that the gentleman does not have [the disease]."

[Byline: Taddeo Bwamba Le, Violet Nabatan Zi, Ismael Kasooha]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Kunihiko Iizuka

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[3]
Date: Tue 7 Aug 2012
From: Daniel Bausch  [edited]


[Re: ProMED-mail Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (12) 20120806.1230691]
A comment on bleeding in hemorrhagic fever
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Regarding bleeding in Ebola hemorrhagic fever, during the Ebola outbreak in Gulu, Uganda in 2000-2001, we collected detailed clinical information on over 100 patients with laboratory confirmed Ebola Sudan virus infection. Excluding subconjunctival bleeding/injection, hemorrhage was noted in only approximately 20 percent of the patients and virtually always occurred in the later stage of illness. Hematemesis and bleeding from the gums were the most frequent hemorrhagic manifestations. Many patients die without visible hemorrhage although, when present, hemorrhage does confer a poor prognosis. Studies done in the isolation ward demonstrated that [ebolavirus] was shed in a wide variety of bodily fluids during the acute period of illness but that the risk of transmission from fomites or from convalescent patients was low (Bausch et al, J Infect Dis. 2007 Nov 15; 196 Suppl 2:S142-7).

This information may be helpful to those combating the present outbreak in Kibaale.

--
Daniel Bausch, MD, MPH&TM
Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
New Orleans
USA


[From these and other recent reports it seems probable that this outbreak in the Kibaale District of Uganda has been contained. There have been at least 16 fatalities, but the suspected cases and their contacts are gradually being released provided they show no symptoms during the 21-day surveillance period post exposure.

Dr Daniel Bausch's commentary on hemorrhage is particularly relevant in assessment of the progress of the Kibaale outbreak.

The news story in part [1] of the post above includes an interesting photograph of containment arrangements at Kigadi Hospital in Kibaale.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/2Xz8  http://www.promedmail.org/

Another Ebola Case Confirmed At Kagadi Hosptal

The Ministry of Health has Tuesday started the reintegration of suspected patients into their communities after weeks of treatment and monitoring.

Health experts have also managed to successfully treat and save the lives of four Ebola patients while 3 have died since the breakout of the epidemic was confirmed late last month.

Below is the full statement issued Tuesday by the Health Ministry.

The Ministry of Health wishes to clarify on media reports alleging that three more cases at Kagadi government Hospital were yesterday confirmed to have Ebola.

There are no new confirmed cases as the people being referred to were confirmed by August 3 and admitted in the acute section of the isolation facility. All samples tested since August 3 have tested negative for Ebola.

The Ministry of Health wishes to further clarify that since the onset of the epidemic, 10 cases have been confirmed to have Ebola.

Of these, three died, three are still admitted at the Kagadi Hospital isolation facility while four recovered from the highly deadly contagious disease.

All confirmed cases are from Kibaale district as samples taken from parts of the country tested negative.

All patients that tested negative are being discharged and re-integrated into their communities as per the discharge protocol.

Every discharged case receives a discharge package including new beddings, clothing, kitchen ware, jerry cans and many others.

Yesterday, the hospital registered one more suspected case bringing the current number of admissions to 30.

The Ministry of Health surveillance team is following up to 248 people who got in contact with the dead and suspects.

A total of 84 people have completed the 21 days for monitoring meaning that they did not contract the disease and are therefore presumed free from the disease.

A total of 400 sets of personal protective equipment and body bags donated by the world Health Organisation were yesterday delivered to Kibaale hospital to reinforce the safety control programme.

The Ministry of health mobile vans, airing short messages of Ebola prevention and control have so far covered nine sub counties.

A total number of 62 village health teams and Red Cross volunteers were yesterday delivered to Kibaale Town Council.

The ministry of heath assures the general public that all necessary measures are being done to contain the spread the epidemic and there should be no panic.  http://www.chimpreports.com/index.php/people/health/5411-another-ebola-case-confirmed-at-kagadi-hosptal.html

WHO-Ebola in Uganda Press release

Ebola in Uganda

August 2012

B. Sensasi

When the first case of Ebola was confirmed in Uganda on 28 July 2012, the WHO country office in Kampala immediately went on alert. In order to prevent the disease from spreading, it was of utmost importance to isolate suspected cases, confirm cases through lab testing, provide supportive treatment, trace and follow up all contacts, and educate the public about the virus and its ways of transmission.
“We immediately sent a team with specialists and supplies to Kibaale district, where the outbreak began,” explains Dr Joaquim Saweka, the WHO Representative in Uganda. “Thus we were able to assist the district with the immediate response and effective coordination in the field.”

Ebola a highly infectious virus

B. Sensasi

Ebola haemorrhagic fever is caused by the Ebola virus, a highly infectious, often fatal virus that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms can include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, bleeding from body openings. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals. So far, there is no treatment or vaccine available for either people or animals.
In the Kibaale District, located about 220 km west of Ugandan’s capital Kampala, as of 7 August 2012, 60 suspected cases of Ebola have been identified, including 16 deaths. Ten cases have been confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe, Uganda. WHO, together with the Ministry of Health and international partners, has been able to contain the infection and prevent the outbreak from expanding beyond Kibaale District. But more support is needed.

Additional resources are needed

“To pay for the additional health workers and supplies needed to care for probably infected people we need more funds,” underlines Dr Saweka. “We are also looking for additional resources to broadly inform people about ways to protect themselves and their families.”
As a result of the joint efforts of all partners, the WHO office in Uganda hopes that it will be possible to stop this outbreak, without it spreading further, in the coming months if not weeks. http://www.who.int/features/2012/ebola_uganda/en/

Ebola Scares Korean Tae-kwon-do Trainers

The four Korean Taekwondo trainers who a have been in Uganda since last month have abandoned coaching because of feat of the Ebola.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44304#ixzz22rgxDb60

West Nile Residents, health workers on Ebola Alert

Residents and health workers in the various districts of West Nile have been put on high alert following the outbreak of the highly contagious Ebola hemorrhagic fever in some districts of western Uganda.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44251#ixzz22rgkaUw1

How to avoid Ebola

http://www.vice.com/fr/read/le-meilleur-quotidien-du-monde/?utm_source=vicetwitterfr

Taiwan's Foreign ministry warns travelers to Uganda of Ebola outbreak

Foreign ministry warns travelers to Uganda of Ebola outbreak
2012/08/07 15:45:32
Taipei, Aug. 7 (CNA) Taiwanese planning on visiting Uganda should be aware of an outbreak of Ebola virus there that has left more than a dozen people dead, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday.

"Those who are traveling to the African country should pay close attention to the situation," said Wang Chien-yeh, the director-general of the ministry's Department of African Affairs.

As of Aug. 3, there were 53 suspected cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, including 16 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
 The seriousness of the Ebola outbreak has even prompted Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to urge residents of the country to avoid unnecessary physical contact and unsafe sex, Wang said at a routine press conference.

"Ebola spreads by contact when you contact each other physically. ... Avoid shaking of hands, because that can cause contact through sweat, which can cause problems," AFP quoted Museveni as saying in a state broadcast.

Currently, about 20 Taiwanese businessmen and their families reside in Uganda.

The Ebola virus is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected persons. Transmission has also occurred by handling sick or dead infected wild animals.

The Ebola virus can cause severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in humans and has a fatality rate of up to 90 percent.  http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201208070019

Traders urge Govt to intensify screening along the Kenya-Uganda borders

Local residents have continued undertaking their activities as usual without fear folowing the Ebola alert in Uganda. [PHOTO | Frankline Bwire | West Fm] The Cross-Border Traders Association has called on the government to intensify the screening exercise of visitors along the Kenya-Uganda border following the Ebola alert in Uganda. The national chairman David Erulu urged the government to increase the number of health personnel undertaking the exercise on the Busia-Uganda border to ensure it is successful. “The government on both sides of the border should increase surveillance and border-control as well as medical personnel to facilitate effective screening,” said Erulu while speaking to West FM in Busia town. He called upon the traders to remain watchful and report any symptoms of Ebola observed to the health officers for quick intervention. “Traders and other local residents should report immediately any symptom related to the Ebola disease to the medical personnel,” said the cross-border chairman. Erulu also challenged police officers in the area to beef up security along the border to ensure all visitors entering the country use the official routes so that they can be screened. Local residents who spoke to West FM said they were satisfied with the precautionary measures put in place by the district medical team, to ensure the disease confirmed in Mid Western Uganda does not spread into the country. “The 24 hour screening exercise of travelers coming into the country from Uganda is quite good for the safety of the inhabitants,” said Patrick Ouma a local resident.

Read more: http://westfm.co.ke/index-page-news-bid-6347.htm#ixzz22qbeiA9p

President’s Office on Alert Following Ebola Outbreak

 In the wake of the Ebola scare that has hit the country, president office together with parliament have also joined several government departments to step up health security measures to avoid further spread of this disease.
At president’s office, all workers especially security officers have been given protective gear like gloves which they use to while searching people who come to this office.
The same office has mounted two points where everyone who wants to cross to this office has to first wash his or her hands before accessing the gate.
At parliament, the same measures have been introduced with cops also given gloves to check all visitors before accessing parliament premises.
Parliament last week issued a directive suspending all would be trips to parliament by groups of people a development which has affected even those who wanted to petition parliament on specific issues.
The directive was made by the public relations manager at parliament Mrs. Helen Kawesa.
Elsewhere MPs have also stopped greeting themselves by shaking hands with a fear that they might also get Ebola through shaking hands.  http://www.ugandapicks.com/2012/08/presidents-office-on-alert-following-ebola-outbreak-87470.html

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (12)

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (12)
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Date: Sat 4 Aug 2012
Source: The East African [abbrev., edited]
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/EA+in+panic+as+Ebola+strikes+again+in+Uganda+/-/2558/1471392/-/15qobmx/-/index.html?


East Africa in panic as Ebola strike again in Uganda
----------------------------------------------------
So far what we see is that it is atypical. Its behaviour is 'very suspicious' Dr Anthony Mbonye the Commissioner for Health Services at the Ministry of Health told The East African, explaining that unlike the typical Sudan strain, victims in the latest [outbreak] suffer fevers without the bleeding normally associated with the virus. The Uganda Ministry of Health declared an outbreak of Ebola in Kibaale district, about 160km [100 miles] west of Kampala. Confirmatory test results were done at the Centres for Disease Control, Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) laboratory in Entebbe. The authorities have been following 176 people that came into contact with the deceased while another 38 suspected cases were under observation.

Although it is confirmed as the Ebola Sudan strain, a viral haemorrhagic fever, it is presenting with less bleeding or haemorrhage, as should be the case with Ebola. "We are not seeing much of the bleeding this time," said Dr Jackson Amone, the Assistant Commissioner Integrated Services at the Ministry of Health who was travelling to Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale, western Uganda, where the 1st cases were reported.

Ebola typically presents with fever, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, joint pains and bleeding. "Most of the patients bleed when they are about to die with the cases we are handling. Sometimes you can confuse it for malaria because there is a high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea," said Dr Amone. According to health workers, in the absence of body fluids the latest strain is easier to manage because Ebola virus is transmissible through contact with body fluids -- saliva, vomit, sweat, blood or other fluids -- in the body of an infected person.

As more investigations are ongoing, samples have been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHF) laboratory in the USA. Results are expected after one week. "CDC is sending samples to Atlanta to do additional sequencing. But the indication now is that it is not a new strain. It is the Sudan strain based on PCR testing, which is specific, said Erik Friedly, the associate head of communication at CDC-Uganda.

CDC health experts said the bleeding is not always present, even though that is what people think of with viral haemorrhagic fevers so less bleeding this time round does not necessarily mean "anything in particular." Dr Denis Lwamafa, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, said that although Ebola is a highly infectious disease, which kills within a short time, it can also be prevented if detected early enough and if people adhere to precautionary measures. The Ministry of Health has advised against direct contact with people suffering from Ebola, public gatherings and eating dead meat especially from monkeys.

Neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Kenya have also dispatched medical teams and gear to border towns to help in mitigating spread of the viral disease.

[Byline: Esther Nakkazi; Evelyn Lirri]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[It remains to be seen whether the reduced haemorrhage associated with this outbreak will make the disease easier to contain and eliminate. The results of the genome sequencing being undertaken at present are awaited with interest. -http://www.promedmail.org/

The Latest Ebola Outbreak: How is the Ministry of health handling the challenge.

Published on Aug 6, 2012 by radioonefm90

Spectrum Thursday August 2nd 2012
Topic: The Latest Ebola Outbreak: How is the Ministry of health handling the challenge plus other sector concerns that make health service delivery a big challenge?
Host: Edmond Kizito
Guest: Hon Dr Christine Ondoa: The Minister of health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwXu-5nG8CA

Mulago hospital discharges Ebola suspect

Mulago hospital discharges Ebola suspect
20120807 1:28:01 AM EST
Mulago referral hospital has discharged an Ebola suspect who has been admitted in the Isolation camp for three days.
The man whose identity has not been disclosed came from Kibaaale district and had shown symptoms of Ebola.
The hospital’s Executive Director, Dr Byarugaba Baterana says after close examination and monitoring the man tested negative for Ebola.
Dr. Byarugaba adds that since Sunday they have not registered any new cases and they do not have any of their health workers in the isolation camp.
He says they are ready to handle any suspected Ebola cases since they have got drugs and other medical equipments in plenty.
http://www.ugpulse.com/uganda-news/health/mulago-hospital-discharges-ebola-suspect/26629.aspx

Hoima Residents Reject Ebola Isolation Unit

2012-08-07 07:48:30

Residents and local leaders in Busiisi Division, Hoima municipality, have rejected the establishment of the Ebola isolation centre in their area.

Read more: http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=44293#ixzz22qBfVqs3

29 cleared of Ebola

Publish Date: Aug 07, 2012

• Health workers preparing to handle Ebola patients at Kagadi Hospital.

.

• 
• 
• 

By Taddeo Bwamba Le, Violet Nabatan Zi and Ismael Kasooha 

A total of 29 people in Kibaale district, who were initially suspected of having contracted the deadly Ebola virus, have been cleared to return home, the health ministry has said.

Of the 36 cases that are in isolation, only three have been confirmed to have the Ebola virus, the health ministry spokesperson, Rukia Nakamatte, told New Vision online

She said health experts are still monitoring the condition of those that will be discharged before allowing them to return home. However, nine were discharged on Monday, New Vision has learnt.

“We are finalising plans to allow 29 of the cases to return home because they tested negative for the Ebola virus,” she said.

Nakamatte explained that while no new cases have been recorded, the ministry surveillance team is still on high alert.

Nakamatte also disclosed that health experts were monitoring 398 cases believed to have come into contact with people who died of Ebola. Of these, 84 have passed the 21- day period during which signs of infection would have shown, although they are still being monitored.

Dr. Joseph Amonye, the national coordinator of the Ebola task force, said the samples taken from these people were negative and there was no reason of confining them at the isolation centre.

“We have tested their samples and found out that they do not have the Ebola virus,” said Amonye.

Meanwhile, Mulago Hospital has discharged a suspected Ebola patient who was admitted at the isolation camp.

Speaking in an interview with the press at Mulago, the hospital’s executive director, Dr. Baterana Byarugaba, said:

“This suspected patient had gone to Kibaale. He developed features similar to malaria and people thought that he had Ebola. But we have since established that the gentleman does not have Ebola.”

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/633833-29-cleared-of-ebola.html

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