By NewsDesk @bactiman63
The Uganda Ministry of Health confirms an Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) case in Kasese District, according to a news release from Minister of Health, Hon. Aceng Jane Ruth.
The confirmed case is a 5 year old boy from Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who travelled with his family on 9th June 2019. The child and his family entered the country through Bwera Border post and sought medical care at Kagando hospital where health workers identified Ebola as a possible cause of illness. He has been admitted and isolated at Bwera Hospital Ebola Treatment Unit as he undergoes further management.
Uganda health officials report five other family members of the confirmed case who crossed over from DRC into Uganda have also been isolated and at Bwera Hospital Ebola Treatment Unit.
Two of these family members have developed symptoms and blood samples are enroute to UVRI. 8 contacts in Uganda have been line listed.
The Ministry of Health and WHO have dispatched a Rapid Response Team to Kasese to identify other people who may be at risk, and ensure they are monitored and provided with care if they also become ill. Uganda has previous experience managing Ebola outbreaks. In preparation for a possible imported case during the current outbreak in DRC, Uganda has vaccinated nearly 4700 health workers in 165 health facilities (including in the facility where the child is being cared for); disease monitoring has been intensified; and health workers trained on recognizing symptoms of the disease. Ebola Treatment Units are in place.
In response to this case, the Ministry is intensifying community education, psychosocial support and will undertake vaccination for those who have come into contact with the patient and at-risk health workers who were not previously vaccinated.
