By Raymond Baguma
and Sylvia Nankya
THE Ministry of Health has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola fever in Luwero district, 60 kilometres north of Kampala.
The first case was a 12-year-old girl from Zirobwe Sub County in Luwero district who died last week at Bombo Military Hospital.
“Laboratory investigations confirmed Ebola to be the cause of illness and death. So far a number of contacts are being observed and followed up,” the Ministry of Health said in a statement yesterday.
The New York Times newspaper yesterday reported that the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had helped Uganda with the initial diagnosis of the case.
In response to the outbreak, a taskforce has been formed with emergency teams at district and national level. Also, drugs and logistics for Ebola case management have been mobilised and an Ebola isolation unit set up to handle suspected and confirmed cases.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Community Health, Dr. Anthony Mbonye, called on the public to remain calm as measures are taken to control the outbreak.
During a press conference at the ministry, the World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Dr. Joaquim Saweka, said a team from Geneva would arrive in the country to carry out more investigations.
Dr. Mbonye revealed that 33 people who came in contact with the victim were under surveillance and being monitored from their homes, for signs of the disease. They include relatives as well as health workers at the clinic where the victim was initially treated before being referred to the hospital at Bombo, where she died.
Ebola is a highly contagious with a high fatality rate. The symptoms of the disease include fever, bleeding through body openings, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headache, rash and red eyes.
There is no known cure or vaccine for Ebola, which causes up to 90% of victims to bleed to death in days.
The disease can be spread through direct physical contact with body fluids like saliva, blood, stool, vomit, urine and sweat from an infected person as well as soiled linen used by a patient. It can also be spread through using skin-piercing instruments that have been used by an infected person. Likewise, a person can get it by getting in touch with the body of a person who has died of the disease.
The ministry advised the public to take measures to prevent infection by avoiding direct contact with body fluids of a person suffering from Ebola by using protective materials like gloves and masks. Also, it is advised to disinfect the bedding and clothing of an infected person.
The ministry also advised the public to report suspected cases to nearby health units. Also Ebola victims should be handled with strong protective wear and buried immediately.
In November 2007, Uganda suffered an Ebola outbreak in Bundibugyo with 37 deaths and 148 infections. The outbreak was officially declared over on February 20, 2008.
According to medics, Ebola can never be too far from anybody because human beings can carry it across the world in a few hours. The virus is named after the Ebola River that is situated in DR Congo where it was first identified in 1976.
An Ebola outbreak in Gulu in October 2000 claimed more than 170 lives, including that of a doctor who struggled to treat victims putting his own life at risk.
Dr. Matthew Lukwiya was the superintendent of Lacor Hospital when he succumbed to the debilitating disease.
More Ebola cases were reported in nearly three districts including Kitgum, Masindi and Mbarara. Six months after that year’s outbreak, Uganda was declared Ebola-free in February 2001.
What is ebola?
Ebola is a killer disease which presents with high fever and bleeding tendencies. It is very infectious, kills in a short time BUT can be prevented.
signs and symptoms
# Headache.
# Vomiting blood.
# Bleeding through the body. Joint and muscle pain openings, i.e. eyes, nose, gums, ears, anus and private parts.
# Reduced urine.
how is it spread?
# Ebola is spread through direct physical contact with body fluids like blood, saliva, stool, vomitus, urine and sweat of an infected person.
# It can also be spread through using skin piercing instruments that have been used by an infected person.
# The virus can also be got through contact with persons who have died of Ebola.
prevention
# Avoid direct contact with, body fluids of a person suffering from Ebola by using protective materials like gloves.
# Disinfect the beddings and clothes of an infected person with a disinfectant such as JIK.
# Persons suspected to be suffering from Ebola should be taken to the nearest health unit immediately for proper management.
# Persons who have died of Ebola must be buried immediately, avoid feasting and funerals should take a short time.
# Persons handling the body of a person who has died of Ebola should wear strong protective materials.
# Report any suspected cases of Ebola to the nearest health unit immediately.
# Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the patient or the body of a person who has died of Ebola.
# Avoid communal washing of hands during funeral rites.
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