Ebola Update

I was talking to Ben Bellows the other day, another student who works in Uganda in the Mbarara area (where there is Ebola apparently) and he mentioned that one case of Ebola actually came to Mulago Hospital (where I work) in the capital city of Kampala (some stories online say 2 cases of Ebola came to Mulago, and both died). Luckily I'm up in the computer lab region, far away from the wards and where people check in, but it's still a bit close for comfort. Ebola only spreads by fluid contact with infected individuals, so I should be fine. 

Here's an update I got off of ProMED: 

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA: (BUNDIBUGYO)

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A ProMED-mail post <http://www.promedmail.org>

ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

<http://www.isid.org>

 

Date: Fri 4 Jan 2008

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(OCHA), ReliefWeb, Government of Uganda report [edited]

<http://reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EDIS-7AJL5L?OpenDocument>

 

Uganda: Ebola outbreak press statement -- 4 Jan 2008

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The Ministry of Health wishes to update the general public on the Ebola situation in the country. The cumulative total is 149 patients with 37 deaths.

In Bundibugyo District, 5 people are currently admitted, one in Kikyo Health Centre and 4 in Bundibugyo Hospital. Of these, one new suspected case has been registered and is admitted in Bundibugyo hospital in the last 24 hours. One patient was discharged from Kikyo Health Centre. On a good note, 441 out of 771 contacts have completed 21 days of follow up and are considered safe.

The Ministry of Health continues to urge the public to avoid unnecessary movements and gatherings especially in the districts around Bundibugyo, that is, Kabarole, Kasese, Hoima, Kibaale, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Bushenyi, and Mbarara.

As we end the festive season, all District Health Officers, in charge of Health Units and the general public should not relax but continue being on alert and immediately report any suspected cases. Similarly, the public is reminded to report to Health Facilities any persons who present with the following symptoms: very high fever of sudden onset, diarrhoea, vomiting associated with red eyes, and a measles-like rash. Ebola is spread by close contact with body fluids of infected persons or people who have died of Ebola. Anybody handling suspected cases must use appropriate protective wear and must wash his/her hands thoroughly with soap and water or JIK [bleach] and water.

The Ministry assures the general public that the epidemic is still confined in Bundibugyo district and is getting contained. The public is urged to be compassionate and provide care and support to persons that have been discharged. I wish to thank all those who have provided support to the discharged patients. Let us continue. These people are not infectious and therefore should not be discriminated against.

The public should continue to be vigilant but without creating unnecessary fear and panic. The Central Alert Team will continue to respond to all alert cases brought to our attention. The numbers to contact remain the same:

Police Mobile 111 or 999

Police control room, Ministry of Health, 0772 587567, 0414 345108.

[Dr Sam Zaramba, Director General of Health Services]

 

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Communicated by:

ProMED-mail

<promed@promedmail.org>

 

[The cumulative number of Ebola hemorrhage fever cases in the Bundibugyo District of Uganda is now given as 149 and the number of deaths as 37. These figures are considerably greater than the 113 cases and 27 deaths declared by the Ugandan Health Ministry on 13 Dec 3007. No doubt some of this increase may be due to enhanced surveillance and retrospective diagnosis, but it is unlikely that the outbreak has been extinguished. Indeed some patients remain in hospital and at least one is a new suspected case. - Mod.CP

In view of the fact that Ebola virus is only spread by contact with the body fluids of an infected monkey or ape, or a human case who is likely to be too sick to attend any gathering, the requirement to avoid movements and gatherings seems excessive. - Mod.JW]