A patient with signs and symptoms suspected to be that of a deadly Ebola disease has been isolated at Kisoro Hospital in Kisoro District, health officials say. Valentino Mubangizi, the Kisoro District Health Educator, says the female patient was traced from Kisoro Town after staying in a hotels along Mutanda Road.
Mubangizi says the patient had earlier crossed into Rwanda through the Chanika Border border point. She was later reported to have developed Ebola-like symptoms after reaching Goma in eastern DR Congo before returning to Kisoro.
He adds that health officials are currently attending to the suspect while awaiting confirmation of samples that were collected and sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute for testing. Mubangizi urges the public to remain vigilant and strictly follow health guidelines to prevent the possible spread of Ebola.
Dan Ndikumwami, the Kisoro Resident District Commissioner, warns residents living along the Uganda–DR Congo border, especially in Bunagana, Rukundo, Mupaka, Nkuringo Town Council, Nyarutembe, Serwaba Market, Bikokora, Kikobero, and Mabende, against crossing into DRC or interacting with Congolese nationals without observing the required Standard Operating Procedures.
Ndikumwami also says that authorities have suspended a planned gospel conference in Gitovu Parish, Mupaka Town Council, where worshippers from DRC were expected to attend.
Authorities in Kanungu District have already closed the Uganda–DR Congo border following an Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo. Common symptoms of Ebola include sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, vomiting, diarrhoea, body weakness, and unexplained bleeding-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
