Renson Mwakandana
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the number of confirmed Ebola cases in Uganda has increased to 16, while the death toll from the disease has risen to four.
Apart from the four confirmed deaths, 17 other fatalities are likely Ebola cases, according to ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona. In Uganda, there are already 16 confirmed cases of the Ebola virus, with an additional 18 cases being considered likely instances of infection, he continued.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, claimed that, “Cases reported outside Mubende include three in Kyegegwa and one in Kassanda but all linked to the index case in Mubende.” He also noted that “there are no verified cases in [the capital] Kampala.”
The Uganda Virus Research Institute is analyzing samples from suspected cases, according to health authorities. The ministry urged locals to follow preventative measures and report any suspicious instances to authorities or nearby medical institutions. Officials were concerned over the contact tracking gaps during the weekend.
The Ebola incident commander, Lt Col Henry Kyobe, stated they are tracking 213 contacts during his statement at the national taskforce meeting on Saturday at the Mubende District headquarters.
“As we speak today (Saturday) we have 213 cumulative contacts. Contact tracing is still a challenge madam. The biggest proportion, numbering 118 (55 percent), are health workers, meaning that community contacts have not all been listed which creates a challenge,” he remarked. Jane Ruth Aceng, the health minister, urged a thorough contact tracing.
