Uganda, May 2011: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 confirmed dead, other suspected cases including fatalities all test negative, monitorin

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

The bold cases might be new..

http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Editorial/-/689360/1166778/-/9ivuqi/-/index.html

Give Ebola outbreak countrywide alert

Posted Sunday, May 22 2011 at 00:00

The ministry of Health has confirmed that a twelve-year old girl from Zirobwe in Luwero District died last week from the deadly Ebola fever. More than 30 people who had made contact with the deceased were subsequently quarantined and are being monitored.

Since then reports of the spread of Ebola are being investigated, with ministry officials putting the number of districts being highly at risk, at twelve, including Luwero, Wakiso, Kampala, Mukono, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola. Bugiri has now been added, as well as suspected cases in Butambala.

Ebola is a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever, and it has claimed many lives in Bundibugyo and Gulu in the past, including that of renowned and tenacious Ebola fighter Dr Matthew Lukwiya. Because it is highly contagious and can be transmitted from one place to another fast, there is all the more reason the government to urgently sensitise the populace about the Ebola outbreak in all media.

It is easy for government, with its arms full as it is with political and security concerns now, to easily ignore the serious threat that Ebola poses. The National Ebola Taskforce should be facilitated to traverse districts where there are suspicious Ebola cases and do fast screening to ascertain the presence or otherwise of the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, all health facilities in the whole country should be put on full alert to watch out and deal decisively with suspected Ebola cases.
Everyone should be encouraged to observe simple hygiene standards like washing of hands and desist from close body contact cultures like casual hugging and kissing.

Most importantly, school authorities should be on a look-out for any suspected Ebola patients, as schools are opening now throughout the country and the sharing culture of school children can help to spread the malaise within no time.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

Ebola Now Invades Nakaseke- 2 New Cases

on 5/22/11

THE Ministry of Health has reported two more cases of Ebola in Nakaseke and Luwero districts.
Dr. Issa Makumbi, the assistant commissioner in charge of epidemiology and surveillance, yesterday told Saturday Vision that the ministry had intensified surveillance to ensure no case of Ebola goes undetected.
Before that, only one case had been confirmed since the outbreak of the disease last week in Luwero.
The two new patients are receiving intensive treatment at the ebola isolation unit.
Makumbi, a member of the special task force for Ebola, noted that the ministry had embarked on taking blood samples from the victims to further ascertain whether it was really Ebola.
He added that apart from a 12-year-old girl from Zirobwe sub-county in Luwero district, who died last week at Bombo Military Hospital, no more deaths have been reported. He said as the ministry was working around the clock to guard against further spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association has asked the Government to spray taxis coming from Luwero with disinfectant to avoid further spread of Ebola.
The transport body appealed to the ministry of health to sensitize the public on the causes and symptoms of Ebola disease.
The Ministry of Health last week confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola fever in Luwero, 60km from Kampala.:tiphat:http://ugandapicks.com/2011/05/ebola-now-invades-nakaseke-2-new-cases.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 30 monitored

EBOLA OUTBREAK IN UGANDA
National Task Force Situation Report (Sitrep No 4) as at 08.00 Hrs; May 19th
2011

One new suspect case was reported in Bombo General Military Hospital in a 5
year old male from Ngalonkalu village, Zirobwe sub-county; she presented on
18TH May 2011, with two day history of high grade fever associated with head
ache, vomiting, general body pains, and bloody diarrhea. The patient has been
isolated and a sample retrieved for laboratory investigation.
? There are four suspect cases currently admitted in Bombo General Military
hospital and they are all reported to be improving on treatment. Three of them
have tested negative for Ebola by PCR and ELISA Antigen testing.

? Three of the contacts to the putative index patient developed a fever and two of
them are isolated while the third contact, a child with remote exposure was not
isolated since his fever had subsided following treatment with antimalarials. One
of the contacts (a health worker) that was earlier on reported to have travelled to
Kyengera was yesterday [18th May 2011] picked up from Kamuli in Kireka and has since been isolated. The two contacts among health workers have tested
negative for Ebola by PCR and ELISA antigen testing.

? The national rapid response team is on the way to Bugiri hospital to investigate
the suspect case reported there as well as support the hospital team to observe
the recommended infection control standards.

? The putative index patient was a 12 year old female from Nakisamata village,
Ngalonkalu Parish, Zirobwe sub-county, Luwero district who passed away on 6th
May 2011 following a febrile hemorrhagic illness that lasted six days. Laboratory
investigations done through both real time PCR testing and Antigen detection by
ELISA confirmed Sudan Ebola virus (SEBOV).
Contact Tracing

? 25 contacts were listed for monitoring in Luwero; 12 in Bombo General Military
Hospital; 3 in Kisakye clinic, Zirobwe Town; 9 in Nakisamata village, Zirobwe
sub-county; and 1 in Negulumye village, Wakiso district. There currently 22 of
them under follow-up since three contacts have since developed fever.

? All the 22 contacts were followed up yesterday (18th May 2011) and none of them
had developed fever or illness consistent with suspect Ebola.

? All the three contacts who developed fever previously have tested negative for
Ebola by PCR and ELISA antigen testing.
Specimen collection

? 11 blood samples have been obtained for Ebola testing.

? Only one 9% (1/11) sample has tested positive for Sudan Ebola virus (SEBOV)
through both real time PCR testing and Antigen detection by ELISA.

? All these samples have been tested at Uganda Virus Institute, Entebbe and
aliquots have been shipped to CDC Atlanta, USA.
Continued investigation (ecological)

? A team from CDC team arrived on 17th May 2011 from Atlanta and traveled to
the Ngalonkalu Parish (Nakisamatta village) on 18th May 2011. The team set up
their equipment and captured 61 bats. They processed the bats onsite and will
return today [19th May 2011] to trap more. The specimens will be processed at
UVRI and results are expected in the next few weeks.
Continued surveillance

? All the listed contacts are being monitored on a daily basis to ensure that they
are isolated as soon as they manifest with symptoms.

? All the districts on the contact pathway have been put on high alert

? Surveillance tools based on Ebola experience have been adapted and will be
distributed to all affected districts starting today [19th May 2011]. These are:
Case definitions, Case reporting forms and contact tracing sheets and follow up..
forms. http://www.afenet.net/english/publications/Ebola_Sitrep_Luwero_19_May_2011_04.pdf

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 50 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 50 monitored

I count 25 total being monitored. I changed the title to reflect this.

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Govt asked to disinfect taxis
By Violet Nabatanzi

THE Government has been asked to disinfect all commuter taxis and buses from Luwero to Kampala in order to avoid the spread of Ebola.

The call was made by the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) as a measure to contain the the disease.

The health ministry last week confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Ebola fever in Luwero district.

The national chairman of UTODA, John Ndyomugyenyi, yesterday said passengers using the main terminal in Kampala were scared of the epidemic and sometimes shun those travelling from Luwero.

He further appealed to the health ministry to sensitise the public on the causes and symptoms of Ebola.

?Sensitisation needs to be carried out in schools and churches on the dangers of Ebola because most of the citizens are not aware of the disease,? Ndyomugyenyi said:tiphat:http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&newsCategoryId=128&newsId=755336

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Health Ministry dismisses Bugiri Ebola reports

The Ministry of Health has negated the report from the Bugiri district health authorities about the Ebola case that was reported in the district early this week.
An official from the Health Ministry, Dr. Denis Lamafa says that a group of experts who were sent to Bugiri Hospital carried out a test that has indicated that the suspect had malaria fever which was in the advanced stage.
Dr. Lamafa adds that other cases had been reported in Gomba district which have also been proved by Ebola experts not to be Ebola but malaria.:magnify:
The Ministry of Health has set a special testing unit for Ebola suspects in Nakaseke district and the ministry urges the members of the public to immediately report suspected Ebola patients.:tiphat:http://www.weinformers.net/2011/05/22/health-ministry-dismisses-bugiri-ebola-reports/

 

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

I count 25 total being monitored. I changed the title to reflect this.

Assuming no further cases are confirmed, the number under monitoring will continue to drop. The last exposures to the confirmed case were on May 6th, so all monitoring would end by the 27th. The reduction from 33 to 30 to 25 people under monitoring likely reflects the dismissal of those with earlier exposures who have reached 21 days already. As it is now the 23rd in Uganda, everyone with exposures only before May 2nd is in the clear (and everyone else has reached at least 17 days).

I would suspect that a large majority of those still under monitoring had exposures on May 6th itself, when the patient died, so most of them will likely be removed only on the 27th.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

The latest media report (May 22) quotes a public health official as identifying two new additional cases of Ebola in Nakaseke and Luweero districts (post #62). These are in addition to the young girl who died in the Luweero District on May 6th.The map below shows the location of these two districts circled in red.



link to original map: http://molg.go.ug/2010/08/04/latest-map-of-uganda-july-2010/

 

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/daily/news.asp?about=Three+people+cleared+of+Ebola&ID=19617

The latest update from the Ministry of Health indicates that the 3 people who were being investigated for ebola do not have the disease.

The country has been on alert for Ebola after a 12-year old girl died of the disease in Luwero district.

3 of the 25 people who got into contact with the victim had developed Ebola-like symptoms forcing the ministry to carry out the said tests.

A statement issued this morning by the Acting Director General of Health Services Dr. Deniss Lwamaffa indicates that the trio is currently admitted at Bombo military hospital and remains under close supervision.

Dr. Lwamaffa says the other suspect who had been reported in Bugiri district earlier was diagonised with malaria and is steadily improving.

He adds that the ministry has intensified surveillance in the various districts under lert.

The ministry of health continues to appeal to the public to report any suspected cases promptly to the nearest health centre.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Source: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1168310/-/c1fc1tz/-/

Health experts call for calm as new Ebola cases are reported
By Flavia Lanyero (email the author)
Posted Tuesday, May 24 2011 at 00:00
Kampala

Health officials yesterday called for calm even as Bombo general hospital is investigating two new suspected cases of Ebola. One soldier was referred from Karita in Amudat District and another from Mubende District after presenting signs of the disease. This brings to four, the number of Ebola cases since it?s outbreak about two weeks ago.

In a statement from the Ministry of Health yesterday, 25 people believed to have had body contact with the girl who died of the disease from Luweero District, are under surveillance. ?After 21 days all the people who had contact with the dead person shall be confirmed not to have contracted the disease and after 41 days the ministry shall declare the outbreak over,? said Mr Anthony Mbonye, the Director General of Health Services.

The Assistant Commissioner Surveillance and Epidemiology, Mr Isaa Makumbi, said districts neighbouring Luweero which include Nakasongola, Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso are at high risk of the disease...

 

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

The counts here don't make sense.

And with the exception of the first confirmed case, I don't see any evidence of any other confirmed cases; these are all just suspected. In particular, these cases are from a different district so may be less likely to be confirmed...

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1168310/-/c1fc1tz/-/

Health experts call for calm as new Ebola cases are reported

By Flavia Lanyero (email the author)


Posted Tuesday, May 24 2011 at 00:00

Kampala

Health officials yesterday called for calm even as Bombo general hospital is investigating two new suspected cases of Ebola. One soldier was referred from Karita in Amudat District and another from Mubende District after presenting signs of the disease. This brings to four, the number of Ebola cases since it’s outbreak about two weeks ago.

In a statement from the Ministry of Health yesterday, 25 people believed to have had body contact with the girl who died of the disease from Luweero District, are under surveillance. “After 21 days all the people who had contact with the dead person shall be confirmed not to have contracted the disease and after 41 days the ministry shall declare the outbreak over,” said Mr Anthony Mbonye, the Director General of Health Services.

The Assistant Commissioner Surveillance and Epidemiology, Mr Isaa Makumbi, said districts neighbouring Luweero which include Nakasongola, Kampala, Mukono and Wakiso are at high risk of the disease.
Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a severe and often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates caused by the Ebola virus.

Dr Makumbi said some of the symptoms of an infection include high temperature-above 38.5 degrees, headache, body weakness, vomiting, bloody stools, urine or vomit, bleeding through openings such as the eyes and ears. However, this highly-contagious disease has no cure and it’s exact cause has not been established. The faster one gets to the hospital the greater their chances of survival.

“If any one suspects they have the disease, the only thing to do is rush to a health centre, there we can give supportive treatment to the symptoms and the person is likely to survive,” Dr Makumbi said.
The virus takes about 14 days to manifest - which in most cases denote a late stage. The known countries to have had Ebola include: Central African Republic, DR Congo, Sudan 1976, Congo Brazzaville, Carbon, Sudan 1976, Ivory Coast 1994, the Philippines and Uganda.

Scientists from the Centre for Disease Control say the nature of Ebola differs from one case to another and as such it has been difficult to get a vaccine or permanent cure for the fever. Dr Mbonye yesterday said the country is in a position to contain the outbreak through an established National Task Force while construction of an isolation unit in Kiwoko Hospital starts today.

Uganda had Ebola outbreaks in 2007 in Bundibugyo and 2000 where an estimated 224 people including a medical superintendent, Dr Matthew Lukwiya of Lacor Hospital in Gulu, died of the virus

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 1 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Second Ebola victim dies

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011





The deadly Ebola disease has killed two people so far following an outbreak announced last week in Nakisamata village, Zirobwe, in Luwero district. Though official reports from the Ministry of Health indicate two deaths and at least 25 traced cases, unofficial figures put the number of deaths at four so far.






LOSS: The victim?s family reacts to the news of Nakiguli?s death. (PHOTO BY PATRICK JARAMOGI)

The Sudan Ebola that struck the remote village in Luwero, killed 12-year- old Kate Nakiguli. The second victim was the Bombo Military Hospital mortuary attendant who, health experts say, had close contact with the first victim. Ministry of Health officials have however pointed out that he was diagnosed with malaria prior to his death.




Dr Monica Musenero, an epidemiologist attached to the African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), pointed out that so far 25 listed contacts had been identified in Luwero district alone. ?The new suspected case of an Ebola victim is that of a five-year-old boy from Nakisamata in Zirobwe, Luwero, where the first victim was reported. The suspect is currently under surveillance at the Bombo Military Hospital,? she said yesterday.


Musenero said four suspected cases had been detected in Luwero and Bugiri districts.
?Three contacts in Luwero have already developed symptoms. Two cumulative alert cases have been detected in Luwero and one in Kampala,? she said.
The National Task Force situation report (Sitrep no 4)issued by the Ministry of Health stated that so far six inpatients were being monitored in Luwero, Kampala and Bugiri.


?No new alert cases, deaths or discharges have been reported by yesterday,? stated the report posted on the AFENET website.
The five-year-old Ebola suspect from Ngalonkalu had a two-day history of high grade fever associated with headache, vomiting, general body pains and bloody diarrhoea.


Four suspects
?The patient has been isolated and a sample retrieved for laboratory investigations. There are four suspected cases admitted at Bombo Military Hospital, and they are responding well to treatment,? said the report. Luwero District Health Officer Dr Joseph Okware said three of the four cases have tested negative for Ebola by PCR and ELISA antigen testing. He said three of the contacts to the ?putative index? patient had developed fever and two of them had been isolated.


Dr Musenero said there was no Ebola in Bugiri. ?The Bugiri case was confirmed to be malaria and the young man is recovering,? she said.
The Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, generalised pain or malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding. The Ministry of Health issued a statement yesterday urging locals to desist from eating game meat, which it described as ?dangerous? in this era of Ebola.:tiphat:http://www.razor.ug/news/national/second-ebola-victim-dies/

 

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

So the mortuary attendant who had contact with the first confirmed case has died, despite testing negative for Ebola and positive for malaria. Perhaps the testing was not good enough? Sure sounds like he had contracted both illnesses, given his outcome and exposure.

The article actually mentions four unofficial deaths, but doesn't indicate who the others might be (perhaps one is the food poisoning case?).

 

[alert]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

http://www.ugpulse.com/articles/dai...ry+warn+people+on+touching+carcasses&ID=19636

The ministry of health has asked people to avoid touching carcasses of animals and birds to reduce the risks of being infected with Ebola and other diseases like swine flu.
Dr. Issa Makumbi, the Commissioner in charge of Ebola task force says that whether carcasses of domestic animals and birds or wild ones should not be eaten and should be handled with care when dumping them.

Mukumbi says that though cases of Ebola are no long being registered, people should avoid interacting with things that may escalate it.

Meanwhile Tullow oil company has given 75 million shillings to the Ministry of Health to facilitate the fight against Ebola disease

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Two deaths in Luweero linked to Ebola Wednesday, May 25 2011 at 00:00
Kampala

The Ministry of Health is investigating two deaths in Luweero District suspected to be caused by Ebola. Health workers in Kasese District are also investigating a patient who was described to have signs of the disease. The patient is currently admitted to Kagando Hospital in Kasese.

In a press statement yesterday, the Acting Director General of Health Services, Dr Dennis Lwamafa, said the two died after suffering high fever and unexplained bleeding. ?Burial team was expeditiously sent to the sites to support the burial arrangements and avert any spread of the disease,? Dr Lwammafa said.

Campaign on Ebola
The Ministry of Health yesterday confirmed it will launch a national awareness campaign against Ebola. The decision comes 18 days after the country registered a third outbreak of the deadly disease in as many years. The Head of Department of Community Health, Dr Anthony Mbonye, yesterday said broadcast media has already rolled out the programmes through advert commercials, but they were still lobbying for money to the print messages.

Tullow Oil yesterday donated Shs75m to facilitate the government in containing the disease. The ministry learnt of the disease outbreak on May 5 after it was confirmed that a 12-year-old girl from Zirobwe Sub-county in Luweero had died of it. The girl, who was admitted with severe fever, bleeding, abdominal pains, died at Bombo Military Hospital.o deaths in Luweero linked to Ebola:tiphat:





http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1168948/-/c1f797z/-/index.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Tullow oil supports Ministry of Health fight against Ebola outbreak

A private oil explorationcompany Tullow Oil Uganda has donated 75 million shillings to the ministry of Health to support the national campaign in the fight against Ebola.
Brian Glover the Uganda Manager of Tullow

Tullow Uganda General Manager Dr Brian Glover says the contribution is to assist the ministry of health to support the communication] campaign in promoting public sensitization and awareness for prevention and control of the disease.
According to the ministry of health, one person has so far succumbed to the deadly disease, while two soldiers from Bombo Military barracks are under close surveillance after showing some signs of the disease.
The Permanent secretary in the ministry of health Dr. Asuman Lukwago says they have set up two isolation centres, one in Bombo military barracks hospital and the other at Kiwoko hospital, where construction of the unit is yet to be finalized.:tiphat:http://www.weinformers.net/2011/05/...istry-of-health-fight-against-ebola-outbreak/

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">Uganda Red Cross assembles 250 volunteers for social mobilisation against Ebola </TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD><TD class=buttonheading width="100%" align=right></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top></TD></TR><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top>Monday, 23 May 2011 02:17 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) has assembled a social mobilization and early reporting of suspected Ebola cases response team of 250 volunteers from the different villages in affected districts. These include, 50 Volunteers from Luwero the epi centre, 30 from Nakaseke, 30 from Nakasongola, 40 from Wakiso, 30 from Mukono, 20 from Bugiri and 50 from Kampala.



To avert the looming spread of the epidemic, the partners have since embarked on an aggressive sensitization and awareness campaign to contain the Ebola epidemic following confirmed reports of the disease in Luweero, Central Uganda. The deadly epidemic has so far killed 1 person and 2 suspected cases are in the isolation unit at Bombo Military Hospital. A team from World Health Organisation, Uganda?s Ministry of Health, Uganda Red Cross Society and MSF is already on ground.


According to URCS Under Secretary General Programs and Projects Dr. Bildard Baguma the leading humanitarian agency is also focusing on improving early detection, reporting and referral of suspected cases of Ebola through active surveillance (Less than 50 percent case
fatality registered in the project areas). URCS interventions are targeting 865, 951 people.

In addition, the URCS will strengthen the coordination and local response by supporting long term epidemic risk reduction actions and
participating in the coordination and monitoring mechanisms.

The four agencies already on ground have conducted preliminary assessments and highlighted the main gaps that need to be addressed for the epidemic to be brought under control.

Neighboring districts of Luwero like Wasiko, Kayunga, Nakaseke, Nakasongola and Kampala districts just along the high way to Northern Uganda and Southern Sudan are being monitored. According to Ministry of Health officials, 23 suspected contacts so far from the military hospital are under surveillance.

Initial assessment done have not yet identified the source of the outbreak, but the national task force has singled out six districts neighbouring Luwero for active case search, surveilance and social mobilization for the ebola outbreak.

Blood samples of the other cases admitted have been sent to referral laboratories in Entebbe by the Uganda Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and more tests are being conducted to provide detailed information on the suspects.

Ebola Sudan, the type confirmed this time in Uganda is a highly contagious killer disease in the category of viral haemorrhagic fevers, with no known cure and with high fatality rate of up to 90% of people exposed to infection.
<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>How Ebola is spread
It is spread through direct physical contact with body fluids of an infected person and consumption of animals carrying the virus. Uganda was last affected by Ebola in 2007 to 2008 in Bundibugyo where over 180 people were affected with 36 deaths including health workers. In 2000
and 2001 over 800 people were affected in Gulu and Masindi districts and more than 150 deaths were reported including health workers.


Coordination and partnerships

The Ministry of Health, URCS and other partners have conducted preliminary needs and capacity assessment in Luwero. The assessment has identified gaps as outlined below:

A national taskforce has been set up in Kampala coordinated by the Ministry of Health and similar tasks force has been formed in Luwero and surrounding districts. Experts from the WHO are already in Uganda working closely with the Ugandan MoH to contain the epidemic and more are on the way. The WHO is providing technical support to the Ministry of Health and is coordinating the international response.

An isolation unit has been established in Bombo military hospital equipped with protective tools provided by Centre for Disease Control (50 PPE Kits) to be used by those handling suspected Ebola cases.

Save the Children has rehabilited the isolation units in Bombo military hospital.

Two meetings so far have been organized and attended by partners to forge a way forward and the following action points have been agreed on:

Community mobilization and sensitization of the populations on the symptoms and preventive measures of
Ebola in the six districts of Luwero the epi centre, Kampala, Nakasongola, Wakiso, Mukono/Kayunga and Nakaseke to be conducted by URCS and other partners

Information, education and communication materials that are context-specific and produced in local languages;

Active community surveilance case search and referal of contacts in the community

Being a permanent member of social mobilization sub-committee of the National and district level epidemic task forces, URCS has been requested in these related activities in the Ebola operation.

CDC, in collaboration with Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL) will continue to receive samples from the affected districts in Northern Uganda and will continue supporting the Government of Uganda in screening samples in response to outbreaks

WHO country office with the MOH are part of the response team supporting the Case management- including Drug and sundries Medical supplies for the treatment of Ebola cases; Personal Protective Equipments (PPE?s) for the health workers and people involved in the response case management, monitoring the trend of the disease, capacity building with experts in the field.

The Ministry of Health deployed technical officers to support case management, surveillance and referal activities in the affected districts

The NTF developed a response plan with a budget to respond to the current outbreak. The details of the activities in the plan will be provided by the different sub-committees

An alert to all the neighbouring countries about the current outbreak has been made by MOH

Additional support to the isolation units and provision of logistical support to the hospital is still being sought after.

The central management of all ebola related communication to the media by the national task force chairman; the director general haelth services from MoH Uganda.

Uganda Red Cross Society Actions
Uganda Red Cross Society Ebola action team has sofar:-

Mobilized 50 volunteers in URCS Luwero Branch the epi centre and 10 volunteers each from the other affected branches to be
trained in social mobilization and active case rearch in the community.

Actively participates in the national and district task force planning meetings for the Ebola response (a member of the
communications and social mobilization team) in Luwero and Kampala.


For further information on Red Cross actions
In Uganda: Michael Richard
Nataka, Secretary General Uganda Red Cross Society

Email:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- var prefix = 'mailto:'; var suffix = ''; var attribs = ''; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy14640 = 'natakam' + '@'; addy14640 = addy14640 + 'redcrossug' + '.' + 'org'; document.write( '<a ' + path + '\'' + prefix + addy14640 + suffix + '\'' + attribs + '>' ); document.write( addy14640 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> </SCRIPT> natakam@redcrossug.org<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- document.write( '' ); //--> </SCRIPT> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- document.write( '</' ); document.write( 'span>' ); //--> </SCRIPT> ,
Office phone: +256-776-312-001



Dr. Bildard Baguma, Under
Secretary General Programs and Operations, Uganda Red Cross Society

Email:<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- var prefix = 'mailto:'; var suffix = ''; var attribs = ''; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addy54921 = 'bbaguma' + '@'; addy54921 = addy54921 + 'redcrossug' + '.' + 'org'; document.write( '<a ' + path + '\'' + prefix + addy54921 + suffix + '\'' + attribs + '>' ); document.write( addy54921 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> </SCRIPT> bbaguma@redcrossug.org<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- document.write( '' ); //--> </SCRIPT> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it<SCRIPT language=JavaScript type=text/javascript> <!-- document.write( '</' ); document.write( 'span>' ); //--> </SCRIPT> ,
Office phone: +256-776-312-002




</TD></TR><TR><TD class=modifydate>Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 10:22 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


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:tiphat:http://www.redcrossug.org/component...of-health-warns-against-wild-animal-meat.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

People warned against eating Monkeys and Bats

Posted by Maureen on 5/24/11

Following the Ebola outbreak in Uganda People are being warned against eating bats and monkeys.
The new finding have it that Bat and Monkeys have the Ebola disease which is spreading highly in the country side.
Ebola disease was initially for Monkeys and Bats but it has come to Human beings through physical contact with the infected animals and sometimes consuming them.
Monkey eaters are mainly found in the western part of Uganda and the Bakonjo tribe in Kasese are among the tribes which eat Monkey meat.
The ministry of health has said that in order to erase away the Ebola Epidermic people should stop eating monkeys.
Recently Ebola Re manifested in Luweero District and it claimed life of a 12 year old girl. The isolation unit has been put up in Bombo military hospital and so far it has 4 patients among them is an army officer from Katakwi:tiphat:http://ugandapicks.com/2011/05/people-warned-against-eating-monkeys-and-bats.html

 

[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

<TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD class=contentheading width="100%">Tullow donates to Ebola cause </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=contentpaneopen><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Written by Ben Musanje </TD></TR><TR><TD class=createdate vAlign=top>Tuesday, 24 May 2011 15:13 </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>A private oil exploration company Tallow Oil Uganda has donated 75 million shillings to the ministry of Health to support the national campaign in the fight against Ebola.
Tallow Uganda General Manager Dr Brian Glover says the contribution is to assist the ministry of health to support the communication campaign in promoting public sensitization and awareness for prevention and control of the disease.
According to the ministry of health, one person has so far succumbed to the deadly disease, while two soldiers from Bombo Military barracks are under close surveillance after showing some signs of the disease.
The Permanent secretary in the ministry of health Dr Asuman Lukwago says they have set up two isolation centres, one in Bombo military barracks hospital and the other at Kiwoko hospital, where construction of the unit is yet to be finalized.
Lukwago has appealed to the public to be very cautious about the epidemic and avoid touching dead animals. He also says the public should report any suspicious signs.
Meanwhile, the head of the reproductive health division in the Ministry Dr Anthony Mbonye says there are 25 told cases which are under investigations for 14 days awaiting the confirmation of positivity or negativity to the Ebola tests.:tiphat:http://www.radiosapientia.com/news/743-tullow-donates-to-ebola-cause

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[Treyfish]

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Re: Uganda: Deadly Ebola Virus Confirmed Near Capital, 2 dead, 2 suspected cases in ICU, 25 monitored

Two new cases of Ebola reported in Uganda

• May 24th, 2011 7:08 pm ET
• Two soldiers are the newest cases of the deadly Ebola virus in the African nation, bringing the total to four since the outbreak began two weeks ago in a 12-year-old girl.

The Daily Monitor reports that one soldier was referred from Karita in Amudat District and another from Mubende District after presenting signs of the disease... :tiphat:http://www.examiner.com/infectious-disease-in-national/two-new-cases-of-ebola-reported-uganda