Three more people on Monday tested positive of the Ebola virus and were admitted at Kagadi Hospital, raising the number of confirmed cases to 13.

Of these, six are still admitted, three have since died while four have recovered ever since the Ebola epidemic was declared.

The disease has so far claimed 16 lives inclusive of the 13 that died before the epidemic was officially declared.

Health officials in Kibaale District said they had discharged seven patients, three of whom are inmates who were admitted on suspicion of suffering from Ebola.

“They have been given a resettlement package to help them re-unite with their families and live better lives,” Mr Stephen Mfashingabo, the vice chairperson of the District Ebola Task Force, said.

They are part of the 29 patients who tested negative of Ebola and are being released gradually from hospital.

They are also accompanied by counsellors to re-unite them with their respective families.

Earlier on, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, the Kibaale District health officer, said those that had tested positive were already on treatment, while those that tested negative were being examined to ensure that they regain enough strength before they are discharged.

“The 3 that tested positive have been put on treatment and are closely monitored by the disease experts. 29 suspected cases have tested negative and are currently being screened by our officials to see who is in good shape to go back home,” Mr Kyamanywa said.

He added that Ebola contacts had increased from 353 by Sunday to 398 yesterday with medics following up 295 cases.
Not aware
However, Asuman Lukwago, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, told Daily Monitor that he was not aware of any new positive cases.

“The information I have captures up to yesterday night (Sunday night). There is no new case of Ebola. In case of any new case, we shall officially communicate.”

In Kibaale, the State Minister for Health, Dr Christine Ondoa, said the continued presence of the Ebola epidemic in the district is likely to need more funds than earlier anticipated, with at least Shs3 billion needed to control the disease.

“It’s difficult to tell what outbreaks such as Ebola will cost because of their seriousness and complexity in managing them.

The bills are so high. When I said we needed Shs3 billion, some people thought it was too much.

But with what is happening, that is what we need,” Dr Ondoa noted during her visit to Kagadi Hospital.

She said that the ministry was worried of how to manage the disease due to the high cost of protective gears, disinfectants and gallons of detergents.

Complied by Nicholas Kalungi, Francis Mugerwa & Ronald Tumusiime