11 suspected cases test negative for Marburg, Ebola
An Ebola isolation unit at Mulago Hospital rehabilitated to accommodate suspected Marburg patients File pHOTO
What you need to know:
No outbreak. Results indicate that there is no Marburg outbreak as it was feared after the death of a health worker confirmed to have contracted Marburg.
KAMPALA.
All the 11 samples of patients suspected of having contracted a virulent haemorrhagic fever have tested negative for Marburg and Ebola viral infections, according to latest update from the Ministry of Health.
Following the death of a 30-year-old health worker at Mengo Hospital – the cause having been confirmed as Marburg viral disease, the Ministry of Health went on high alert and traced possible contacts, among whom suspected cases were identified.
On Monday evening, 11 samples collected from people who had signs like those of Marburg disease were sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for further investigation for both Marburg and Ebola.
Now, the good news coming from the ministry indicates that all the 11 people do not have either of the two highly infectious diseases.
According to the Head of Surveillance and Epidemiology Department in the Ministry of Health, Dr Issa Makumbi, the results indicate that there is no Marburg outbreak as it was feared after the death of a health worker confirmed to have contracted Marburg.
A press statement issued by the Director Genaral Health Services, Dr Jane Aceng, said although the suspects had developed signs and symptoms similar to those of the disease, they did not contract the virus.
Among those who tested negative include the brother of the deceased, two health workers from Mildmay Uganda, seven from Mpigi Health Center IV and two relatives of the deceased who participated in the burial.
“Currently, there are three suspect cases in isolation,” reads part of the statement.
Two of them are in the National Isolation Facility in Entebbe where they were admitted after showing signs.
Another suspect is a child admitted at Mpigi Health Center IV isolation Ward. While, his results indicate that he does not have the disease, Dr Makumbi said he will remain under close monitoring until his samples have been tested again after three days.
However, the ministry remains on the alert tracing people who may have been in contact with the index case whose results confirmed that he died of Marburg.
By yesterday evening, (Tuesday) a total of 99 contacts had been identified and will continue to be followed up for the next 21 days.
In the meantime, the ministry has appealed to the public to remain alert and observe the precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the disease. Some of these include; reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community arising from direct or close contact with suspected cases, adherence to use of gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment when taking care of sick patients and regular hand washing after visiting patients in hospital, as well as after taking care of patients at home.
Meanwhile, the ministry has also dismissed claims that there was a confirmed case of Marburg in Kasese District, saying it was a baseless rumour.
Ms Eddy Kabugho, a sister of the late Ibrahim Bwambale, a radiographer who succumbed to the deadly and contagious virus at Mengo Hospital, is under treatment at Kagando Hospital but officials at the ministry said her disease is not related to any of the two haemorrhagic fevers.
