Govt on high alert over Ebola outbreak

Govt on high alert over Ebola outbreak Written By:Judith Akolo,    Posted: Wed, Aug 01, 2012

The Ebola fever that broke out in Kibaale, Uganda has caused 14 deaths so far The government is still on the edge following the outbreak of the infectious Ebola hemorrhagic fever in neighboring Uganda. The Office of the President summoned officials of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation for a brain-storming session at Harambee house as causalities in Uganda ran high increasing concerns for travelers. The Ebola fever broke out in the Western Uganda region of Kibaale and has so far seen a total of 33 cases diagnosed with the fever and 14 deaths including a clinical officer who attended to a patient, and her four month-old child. Speaking on phone, the Head of Disease Prevention and Control at the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation Dr Willis Akhwale said health officials were briefing the government on measures taken to deal with any eventuality following the outbreak of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Uganda's Kibaale region. On Sunday the Ministry of Health of Uganda notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district raising concerns among travelers. However, official reports indicate that there is no danger outside Western Uganda. Kenyan laboratories have been put on high alert after the outbreak of the fever in Uganda that has so far claimed the lives of 14 people with 33 diagnosed cases. The Ministry of Health has also dispatched protective medical gear to help detect people who may be carrying the virus, in order the keep the country free of Ebola. Among other measures is the raising of awareness and screenings at airports and border crossings.  Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday issued an appeal for citizens of the country to report all suspected cases of the illness and to avoid contact with those who may have the disease. The current outbreak of Ebola, for which there is no specific treatment or vaccine, is the worst in Uganda since 2007, when 42 people died from the disease. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with blood, secretions or other bodily fluids of infected persons. The incubation period for Ebola Heamorraghic Fever ranges from 2 to 21 days. The Symptoms of the highly infectious disease include; fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain, skin rash, red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding. The natural reservoir of the virus is still unknown. According to WHO, about 1,850 cases with more than 1,200 deaths have been documented since Ebola was discovered in 1976.