Suspected Ebola case in Bugiri

By Dan Wandera

Friday, May 20 2011 at 00:00

A new suspected case of Ebola has been reported in Bugiri District, hardly a week after a 12-year-old girl died of the disease, the ministry of health said in a statement yesterday.
The patient, who is admitted to Bugiri Hospital had fever, measles-like rashes and a bleeding gum—all symptoms of Ebola.
Meanwhile, 25 people in Luweero, who had direct contact with the deceased girl remain under close monitoring.

The ministry said one person who got in contact with the girl was treated for malaria and is improving.
In a statement yesterday, the ministry said, two other people who got in contact with the girl “have their samples being analysed for Ebola”.

Dr Denis Rwamafa, the commissioner for national disease control, said districts that are at high risk of the disease are, Luweero, Wakiso, Kampala, Mukono, Nakaseke and Nakasongola.

“We are enhancing surveillance and have expanded the monitoring to all the six-risk districts until the 42 days expire as the mandatory period to declare an area Ebola free,” said Dr Rwamafa.

A team of health experts on Tuesday visited Luweero to reinforce the emergency health teams set up to respond to the Ebola outbreak in the district and possible outbreaks across the country.

Ebola is a highly-contagious disease that spreads fast when one gets in contact with body fluids of an infected person.
All district task forces have been asked to reactivate their responses to any possible outbreak of the virus.