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Uganda confirms first coronavirus case

Health Minister, Dr Ruth Jane Aceng.

Uganda has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.
Health Minister, Dr Ruth Aceng on Sunday morning said the confirmed case is a 36-year-old male resident of Kibuli, Kakungulu zone in Kampala, who had travelled to Dubai on March 17, 2020 for a business trip.
He reportedly returned to Uganda on March 21, 2020 at around 2 am aboard Ethiopian airlines.

During the screening process at Entebbe Airport, his temperature was said to be at 38.7.
"This prompted the health team at the airport to isolate him at the airport for further follow up. Subsequent temperatures taken at intervals of 30 minutes and one hour remained the same. He was evacuated to Entebbe Grade B hospital for further follow up where a nasal swab was taken for analysis. The patient is in stable condition but remains under isolation at Entebbe Grade B hospital," Dr Aceng said in a statement released at 12am on Sunday.

The confirmed case presented with high fever and poor appetite. He is not coughing neither did he have flu, according to Dr Aceng.
“However, the persistent fever prompted the health workers to isolate him.

His nasal swab samples was sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for analysis. Results from UVRI showed the sample is positive for COVID-19,” she added.
To date a total of 1,827 travellers including Ugandans and others travelling back home have been identified as coming from high-risk countries for purposes of follow up.
“About 827 are completing self-quarantine while about 1,000 are under quarantine,” she added.

According to the minister, all measures were undertaken to identify this case at the airport and isolate him in a timely manner.
“The passenger manifest has been retrieved and all contacts are known as we are in position of the passports of all the travellers that came on that plane,” she added.

To report any suspected cases, please call the Ministry of Health’s toll-free lines on 0800-203-033 and 0800-100-066 or the following officers - Mr. Atek Kagirita 0782 909 153, Dr. Allan Muruta- 0772 460 297.