Medical workers start count to declare Kibaale Ebola-free

A health officer from World Health Organisation ready to spray the premises at Kagadi Hospital recently. More than 60 patients with Ebola-like symptoms have sought medical attention at the hospital. PHOTO by RONALD TUMUSIIME

What you need to know:

The last confirmed cases were discharged on Friday while a man who reportedly entered into an isolation ward at Kagadi Hospital and stole a phone from an Ebola patient was also discharged.

Kibaale

Medical officials in Kibaale at the weekend began counting 21 days within which the district will be declared Ebola-free if they do not register any new cases.

The district health officer, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, said the counting started after all suspected and confirmed Ebola patients were discharged from Kagadi Hospital.

Also discharged was a 40-year-old resident of Kyakabugahya Village in Kagadi Town Council who reportedly stealthily entered into an isolation ward at Kagadi hospital and stole a phone from one of the Ebola patients who succumbed to the disease.

He developed Ebola-like symptoms after he started using the phone which an Ebola patient had used.
“He tested negative, received medication and has been discharged,” Dr Kyamanywa said. He may have survived the highly contagious disease but he is not yet off the criminal hook.

The district police commander, Mr John Ojokuna Elatu, said detectives are following him up over theft charges. “The file was opened at Kagadi Police and it is active,” Mr Ojokuna said.

This newspaper had by press time confirmed that the suspect had not been arrested by police.
The district health officer said medical officials are conducting surveillance in villages to detect any new cases.The tension that had gripped the district following the confirmation of Ebola outbreak has subsided.

The disease is a haemorrhagic fever and its incubation period is 21 days. Some of the signs and symptoms of the disease include fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, headache,measles-like rash, red eyes and bleeding from body openings.