Ebola ‘under control’

Written by Diana Nabiruma

Wednesday, 25 May 2011 17:20

On May 6, a 12-year-old girl from Luwero died of Ebola. After her death, three individuals, with whom the girl had been in contact, were subjected to investigations to determine if they had caught the disease. But following investigations, the ministry of Health has declared these three individuals Ebola free. Regardless of this, the three are still under observation at Bombo Military Hospital. However, by yesterday, the ministry was investigating two deaths in Bowa-Kibira and Namaliga in Luweero district. According to a ministry statement, two people died after suffering from high fever and unexplained bleeding. A burial team was sent to support the burial arrangements and avert any spread of the disease. Also two soldiers, one from Amudat and the other from Mubende are in isolation at Bombo Military Hospital. They are suspected to have Ebola. Tests are yet to confirm the disease. As of May 23, the other people with whom the deceased got into contact were also still being monitored by ministry of Health officials. This is in accordance with guidelines by the World Health Organisation (WHO). As of May 23, none of them had shown Ebola-like symptoms and after 21 days – starting May 6 – they will be declared Ebola free. If after 41 days no new Ebola cases are confirmed, the outbreak will be declared over. While the disease seems to be swiftly under control this time as opposed to the previous outbreaks in Gulu and Bundibugyo, an isolation centre at Kiwoko Hospital in Nakaseke district has been set up to cater for any suspects. Training of isolation unit staff, ambulance drivers and burial teams is also underway at Bombo Military Hospital. District and health officials have also been trained in matters concerning preventing the disease and dealing with it should it manifest. A statement from the National Task Force on Ebola says Shs 3.6 billion is required to combat the disease. The World Health Organisation lists five distinct strains of the Ebola virus. These are Sudan, Zaire, Bundibugyo, Reston and Côte d’Ivoire. Of the five, Sudan and Zaire have been recorded to be most fatal, causing 25-90% deaths in people that get infected with them. The girl that died in Luwero suffered from the Sudan strain, according to information from the national task force. The biggest Ebola epidemic in the world so far has been recorded in Gulu in 2000 and 2001, which affected 425 people, killing 224 of them. The ministry is trying to avert a repeat and is calling upon Ugandans to be on the alert. Symptoms of the virus include a high fever and headache, accompanied by bleeding from every body opening including the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The disease can kill its victims within three days.