The Kumi District Health Department has put one suspected Ebola patient and two contacts in isolation. According to the District Health Officer (DHO) of Kumi District, Dr. Emmanuel Ongala, the district, which is located on the main highway connecting borders from Busia to Elegu in South Sudan, has been on high alert and surveillance since the Ebola outbreak was announced in the country.
Dr. Ongala reported that on May 28, 2026, around midday, a patient was brought to Atutur Hospital displaying signs and symptoms of Ebola. “Today, around midday, we got a 39-year-old male resident of Nyero who came to Atutur Hospital with excessive nose bleeding and vomiting blood, and he had a high temperature of about 38 degrees. We have put him under isolation at Atutur Hospital,” Dr. Ongala stated.
He noted that the patient is considered a suspected Ebola case because he could not explain the reasons behind his nose bleeding and vomiting blood to the medical staff.
Dr. Ongala mentioned that the suspect has no clear history of travel or contact with a confirmed case, but given the ongoing outbreak in the country, samples from the patient and his contacts have been sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for further testing to ascertain whether it is Ebola or another disease.
“We are waiting for the results, possibly within 72 hours. If it turns positive, we will trace for more possible contacts to put under isolation,” he added. Dr. Ongala indicated that the Kumi District Task Force is set to have a meeting on Friday, May 29th, where discussions will focus on how Kumi should implement measures to safeguard the community.
“We shall discuss the dos and don’ts in the meeting tomorrow, but for now, let the community observe Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure their safety,” Dr. Ongala urged.
The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain, marking the second such outbreak recorded in both Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Both countries have previously experienced multiple outbreaks involving the Zaire strain of Ebola. Health experts emphasize that the Bundibugyo strain poses a serious public health threat, particularly as there are currently no approved vaccines or specific therapeutics for it, with treatment largely focused on supportive care-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
