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Gov't announces way forward after Ebola cases reported in Uganda

Authors:

Miriam Mwende

A 5-year-old boy died in Uganda

Medics gear up before interacting with Ebola patients in a West African State (CNN)

The Ministry of Health has announced measures that have been put in place following reported case of Ebola in Uganda.

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A statement from the ministry announced that screening points had been set up at all border entry points as well as lading areas for domestic flights.

"Incoming travelers from DRC, Uganda and other countries are undergoing screening using thermo scanners and hand-held thermo guns at major airports, including Wilson Airport," the statement outlined.

Health CS Sicily Kariuki
Health CS Sicily Kariuki Pulse Live Kenya

The ministry further assured citizens that any persons suspected to be infected especially at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) will be placed in a special holding room and later transferred to the Kenyatta National Hospital special Ebola unit for further tests.

Busia Border Post on high alert

"We have intensified screening of travellers coming in from Uganda. We are taking body temperature and also monitoring travel records of the passengers using their passports before they are allowed to enter the country," stated Joshua Arusei, the Port Health Officer at the one-stop Busia Border Post.

He added that anyone with a body temperature of above 38 degrees will be treated as a possible patient and will be attended to at the Busia County Referral Hospital.

The Ministry of Health in Uganda together with the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed an outbreak of the virus at Kasese, Eastern Uganda.

Passengers being screened at the one-stop Busia Border Post after Ebola cases were reported in Eastern Uganda
Passengers being screened at the one-stop Busia Border Post after Ebola cases were reported in Eastern Uganda Pulse Live Kenya

The earliest detectable symptoms of the deadly Ebola virus are high fever which is indicated by a spike in body temperature, muscle aches, diarrhea and vomiting. Another symptom associated with the infection is unexplained bleeding which could occur in the eyes or even internally.

The virus can take between 1-21 days in the body before it starts to causing symptoms of an infection and once it has become a fully-blown infection a person is likely to die after 6 to 16 days.

Authors:

Miriam Mwende

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