Kagadi in ebola scare as one dies
Kagadi is among the 22 high Ebola risk identified districts due to the cross-border movements
What you need to know:
- Kagadi is among the 22 high risk identified districts due to the cross-border movements. Most residents in Kagadi and Hoima districts transact their businesses in DR Congo, which according to health officials could escalate the transmission of Ebola to Uganda.
- In 2012, the Ebola outbreak in Kagadi, which was still under Kibaale District, claimed 16 people. In November last year, the Ministry of Health asked people in districts neighbouring DR Congo to be alert and watch out for signs of the haemorrhagic fever. Since the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo early last year, the ministry has been receiving various alerts on symptoms similar to those of the haemorrhagic fever, but of the 300 suspected cases tested, none has turned out positive.
Kagadi. Kagadi District is on high alert following the death of a suspected Ebola patient.
The deceased, Benon Ahorwendire, 50, a resident of Kanyegaramire Village in Kyenzige Town Council died at the weekend at Kagadi General Hospital where he had been admitted after presenting signs similar to those of an Ebola patient.
Mr Selevano Thembo, the district surveillance focal person, said the deceased presented signs of fever, diarrhoea and vomiting blood.
‘‘Since our district is at high risk, any person who presents signs like diarrhoea, vomiting blood, we take their blood samples to Entebbe (Uganda Virus Research Institute) to ascertain the type of fever. As per now, we cannot confirm what caused the death. In this case, we took precaution of burying the deceased by using the district burial team to protect the residents,’’ Mr Thembo said.
Dr James Olowo, the district health officer, urged the public to remain vigilant and report such suspicious cases.
Kagadi borders DR Congo where Ebola has claimed hundreds of lives since the outbreak started in August and more than 1,000 people have contracted the virus.
Dr Olowo said more than 300 Congolese nationals enter the district weekly via Lake Albert shores due to the escalating virus in eastern DR Congo.
Measures
Last week, the Health ministry disbursed Shs146 million to Kagadi health department to help the co-ordination of all activities in preparation of fighting a possible outbreak.
Government also opened four Ebola screening centres in the district to step up preparedness against the haemorrhagic disease.
These are Ndaiga, Kabukanga, Kitebere and Songalawo landing sites at Lake Albert shores.
