Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Keeps Growing, Health Officers Begin to Be Suspected and Killed
KAMPALA, KOMPAS.COM – Twenty-nine people, including four officers health, has died since the outbreak was announced in the district in September 20 according to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO) week this.
This is the first outbreak of the Sudanese Ebola strain in Uganda since 2012. Meanwhile, this east African country is still battling the impact the Covid pandemic, which has kept schools closed for almost two years.
Among the patients who died was Mohammed Ali, a doctor A 37 year old Tanzanian who works at the Mubende hospital and had operated on a patient who later tested positive for virus.
Six other health workers have been infected, bringing the total number reported cases to 63 in five states according to the report Guardian on Friday (7/10/2022).
FIRST TO DIE
EXISTING VACCINE IS NOT EFFECTIVE
On Wednesday (5/10/2022), Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said to Ugandans that the outbreak is under control.
The government has the capacity to control this outbreak such as which we have done before. Therefore, there is no need anxiety, panic, restriction of movement or closure unnecessary public places, he said in a speech that broadcast on television.
However, Dr Christopher Mambula, program manager for Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) in Uganda, said the situation was very serious.
Cases are increasing every day and it remains unclear how widespread the virus is has spread, he said, adding that the lack of a vaccine to treat the type of Ebola responsible for the outbreak Sudan virus is a concern.
The vaccine used to curb the recent Ebola outbreak in The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is ineffective against the Sudan virus.
AND 1 DEATH
WHO says several vaccines are in various stages development, two of which could start clinical trials in Uganda in the coming weeks.
