Suspected Ebola cases in Kampala
The Uganda Medical Association has hinted that the Ebola Virus Disease is spreading like a bush fire and needs speedy action from the government.
According to the medical body, they anticipate that the deadly disease could have already reached several districts in Uganda and the situation will soon blow out of proportion.
Current statistics from the Ministry of Health indicate that the cumulative number of deaths from Ebola now stands at 21 while infected cases are 16 confirmed and 18 probable.
The UMA President Dr. Sam Oledo says the government needs to deploy more medical personnel to address the pandemic before its too late. He warns that the current hotspots indicated by the MOH do not signify what is on the ground.
Oledo explains that from August 2022 when the first patient presented with symptoms of Ebola, nothing was done to contain the disease, meaning people have since travelled and picked the viral disease.
Oledo says that the disease has since spread to several districts like Kisoro, Kampala among others since patients could have travelled in hot spots.
“We have realised that the disease is in Kisoro, there have been probable cases in Kampala although some results tested negative. Even the patients in Mubende could have travelled from Kakumiro. We also heard there is an isolated case in Zombo and this means people have passed through hotspots because there is no travel ban,” he said.
Oledo said that government needs to deploy more than 2,000 redundant health workers to handle the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic.
“We are a nation starving amidst plenty, it is high time that we recruit and have a team specifically for the Ebola treatment unit. At level 1, 2 and 3 of the disease, we must have fully braced health workers to see any suspected case,” he said.
Suspected Ebola cases in Kampala
Dr. Oledo has also urged the Ministry of Health to provide all health workers treating patients with Ebola with the required medical equipment to ensure that they are also protected from the disease.
However, Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health has dismissed claims that Ebola is in Kampala.
“Cases reported outside Mubende include three in Kyegegwa and one in Kassanda but all linked to the index case in Mubende,” he said, adding that there is “no confirmed cases in Kampala as yet”.
Districts where confirmed and suspected cases have been reported include Kasanga, Kasanda, Kampala, Kisoro, Kakumiro, Mubende, Kyegegwa, and Lyantonde.
Health authorities said samples from suspected cases are being analysed at the Uganda Virus Research Institute.
Last week, the Ministry reported that over seven suspects with Ebola-like symptoms fled from health teams before they could be transferred to the Ebola isolation centre.
Ebola Sudan strain was first registered on 19th September, when a 24-year-old man was admitted at the Mubende Regional Referral hospital with symptoms of the deadly disease.
Ebola spreads when one touches fluids of an infected person like vomit, blood, stool or objects that have been contaminated with body fluids from an infected person.
It presents with a fever, headache, sore throat, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and bleeding from openings, yellowing of the eyes, general body weakness among others.
