No Ebola in Ugnada – Ministry of Health clarifies

KAMPALA– The Ministry of Health (MoH) has clarified that there is no case of Ebola in the country.

The clarification was announced in a press statement on Tuesday by Dr Henry G. Mwebesa, the Director General Health Services Ministry of Health.

Uganda currently has been on a high alert of Ebola following the confirmation of a case by Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the North Kivu and Ituri province on August 1st, 2018.

In the last two months, Ministry of Health of Uganda through Uganda Virus Research Institute has been investigating over 220 samples collected from suspects and alert cases.

But all the 220 cases according to Dr Mwebesa were tested negative of any Ebola strains (Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Ebola Bundibugyo), Marburg or Sosuga virus using Polymerase Chain Reaction-PCR.

“As of 16/10/2018, all blood samples including that of a 48-year-old Congolese female who was presented with bleeding at Bwera hospital also tested negative by PCR for all the above set of Viral Hemorrhagic fever viruses. She has been managed for Malaria and has improved,” the statement read in part.

He, however, stated that for the meantime, MOH, together with partners is aiding the district bordering DRC to heighten preparedness and readiness to manage any Ebola case that may come into the country from the neighboring countries.

“Currently, a high level of delegation from the Independent Oversight Advisory Committee of World Health Organisation-Geneva is in the country and together with the WHO country team and MOH officials are visiting the border districts of Kasese, Ntoroko, Bundibugyo, and Kabarole to assess the level of Uganda’s EVD preparedness,” it further read.

He, therefore, calls upon the public to stop panicking because MOH is prepared to control Ebola should it cross to the country, and also cautioning people to be vigilant to report any rumor, suspected or alert case to the nearest hospital.