KAMPALA – The Ministry of Health has said that as of today, Uganda has not registered any new confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in Kasese District or any other part of Uganda since the last registered case one week ago.
“There are no new suspect cases under admission,” said the ministry in a statement, adding that, “Currently, 110 contacts to the confirmed Ebola cases in Kagando and Bwera are being followed up daily.”
The ministry revealed that a total of 456 individuals have been vaccinated against EVD using the ‘Ebola-rVSV’ vaccine in Kasese District, Western Uganda.
“The vaccination exercise is currently taking place in the 13 areas of; Buhuna 2, Bwera Hospital, Kagando 1, Kaserengete, Kayantsi Il, Kirembo, Lhibira Town Council, Mushenene 2, Ndongo, Nyamambuka Il, Nyamatunga, Rusese Barracks and Rwenguhyo,” said Dr. Charles Olaro, for the Director General Health Services.
The ‘Ebola-rVSV’ vaccine is administered to contacts to the confirmed cases and non-vaccinated frontline health and other workers, the most high-risk population to protect them against the deadly Ebola – Zaire virus strain.
Dr. Charles said that on Thursday 19, a 19-year-old male patient passed on after presenting with Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) symptoms such as fever and bleeding from the mouth at ChinaUganda Friendship Hospital, Naguru.
“Blood samples were withdrawn from the patient and sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for testing. Results showed that he was negative for Ebola, Marburg, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and Sosuga,” he said.
Uganda just concluded the first ever African Hepatitis Summit which attracted over 500 delegates from 25 countries across the world. In the same vein, we would like to reassure International travelers that Uganda is safe and all our national parks and tourist sites remain open and accessible to the public.
The ministry appealed to the public and malicious individuals to desist from spreading false rumours about the Ebola outbreak generally and on social media. “The outbreak is REAL and we urge all residents of Uganda to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility or call our toll-free number 0800-203-033 or 0800-100-066.”
On Friday 21, teams from the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation (WHO) Uganda office sensitized prisoners in Mubuku Prison on Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).
“Continuous Community engagement is a critical arm in mitigating disease outbreaks,” said the ministry.
Early this week, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Uganda’s Minister of Health held a meeting with Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General World Health Organisation at Protea Hotel in Entebbe to discuss the current Ebola outbreak in Uganda and DRC.
