KAMPALA – Dr. Jane Aceng, the Minister for Health on Wednesday 18 revealed that Uganda is at the moment Ebola free despite 2 new suspect cases who are under isolation at Bwera ETU as of June 17.
Ms. Aceng said that the confirmed index case was a 5-year-old boy who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with his mother on 10th June 2019. The mother is of Congolese origin but married to a Ugandan and they reside in Kasese District. However, she had traveled back to DRC to nurse her father who succumbed to Ebola.
“The total confirmed Ebola cases include; 5-year-old boy, a 50-year-old grandmother and a 3-year-old boy who all succumbed to Ebola. As of today, we have not registered any new confirmed Ebola case since the last registered case four days ago in Kasese District or any other part of Uganda. As of 17th June, there are 2 new suspect cases who are under isolation at Bwera ETU. Blood samples were withdrawn from the suspect cases and sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for testing. Results are pending. Currently, 92 contacts to the confirmed Ebola cases are being followed up daily,” said Ms. Aceng.
She explained that the mother and child were accompanied to Uganda by 4 other family members who are all of the Congolese origins including the wife of the deceased. The child and his family entered the country through Bwera at an undesignated Border post and sought medical care at Kagando hospital.
On 12th June 2019, the 50-year-old grandmother of the deceased index Ebola case who traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the 10th June 2019, tested positive for Ebola and died at 4:00 pm, the same day. She was accorded a safe burial at a public cemetery in Kasese District.
On 13 June 2019, the DRC team successfully repatriated five people. These are; mother of the deceased index case, the 3-year-old confirmed Ebola case, her 6-month-old baby and the maid. The father of the deceased index case who is Ugandan also agreed to be repatriated with his family. All the six people who entered Uganda from DRC have now been accounted for.
On the other hand, the Minister of State for Kampala Capital City Authority, Benny Namugwanya appraised the House on the state of floods in Kampala and its suburbs.
In her statement, she highlighted that eight (8) people are believed to have lost their lives in the areas of Kikajjo, Lubowa and Lufuka all located in Masajja and Bunamwaya divisions.
According to relief Agencies, over 500 households were affected by the floods of 26th May 2019.
The most affected villages include: Lubowa, Lufuka, Kazinga, Wakulekana, Buzali, Masajja-Kibira-B, Lwasa bridge way triangle, Kabuma,Katongo,Kikajjo, Katwe, MakindyeSsabagabo
