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Uganda rules out Ebola spread from DR Congo

Sunday September 23 2018
ebola

A health worker wearing protective gear at a facility treating Ebola cases in West Africa. Uganda on September 23, 2018 allayed fears of an outbreak of the epidemic in the country. FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By MONITOR

Kampala authorities Sunday ruled out an Ebola outbreak in Uganda despite information from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on a newly-confirmed case of the epidemic in Kasenyi Village, near the shores of Lake Albert on the DR Congo side of the border.

"The patient died on the 19th of September 2018, at Tchomia General Hospital which is quite close to Uganda. She was a contact of two previously confirmed cases (her mother and sister), thus a high risk contact. We are informed that she got lost to follow up when she moved to Kasenyi," said Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General Health Services, in a statement.

Dr Olaro said the patient then later became sick, and was admitted at Tchomia General Hospital where she later died.

A high risk

"A sample was taken from her and results released on the 21st September 2018 confirmed that it was positive for Ebola. A team from Beni is currently on ground to conduct investigation of this case, identify and list all contacts for follow up, and initiate a response," said Dr Olaro.

He added: "We understand that there are population movements across the Lake Albert to Uganda hence a high risk of spread of the disease to Uganda. The Ministry of Health and Partners are supporting the districts bordering DRC to heighten preparedness and readiness to handle any Ebola case that might come into Uganda," he said.

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