Ministry Of Health Dismisses Reports of Ebola Cases In Kampala

The Ministry of Health has ruled out ongoing reports that Kampala City has registered six probable cases of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

This comes as social media reports indicated that there are six suspected cases of Ebola currently admitted at health facilities

On Sunday, the health workers under the Uganda Medical Association suggested that some patients had reported to unknown health facilities with symptoms of the disease but some of samples tested at the Uganda Virus Research Institute(UVRI) returned negative.

Speaking to the media on Sunday, the UMA President Dr. Sam Oledo said the government needs to put in place to battle the ebola virus before the situation gets out of hand. Oledo says since the index patient was reported in August 2022,and it is highly  probable that the disease has since spread to several districts like Kisoro, Kampala among others since patients could have traveled in hotspots.

“The disease has spread wide since the first patient was reported, we have had probable cases even in Kampala.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 says

He also asked the Ministry of health to deploy over 2000 redundant health workers to handle the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic.He explained that UMA has already gazetted a team for the Ebola treatment unit from the over 2000 health workers who are currently unemployed.

However, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona says there are no confirmed cases in Kampala.

“There was a sample collected from a suspected case in Kansanga and we are still awaiting results.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”. he said

According to Ainebyona, as of 25th September, 2022  36 Cumulative Ebola   cases ( including  18 confirmed and 18 probable cases),  Cumulative  deaths stand at 23, ( 5 confirmed  and 18 probable deaths).  I2 new confirmed cases were reported and 2 new deaths were reported.

Districts where confirmed and suspected cases have been reported include Kasanga, Kassanda, Kisoro, Kakumiro, Mubende, Kyegegwa, and Lyantonde.

Health authorities said samples from suspected cases are being analyzed 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 center.

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.