Uganda Establishes Ebola Isolation Units in Response to Outbreak in Capital
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Synopsis
On February 3, Uganda, with the support of WHO, initiated the establishment of an 84-bed Ebola isolation unit in Kampala due to an outbreak. The facility aims to manage suspected and confirmed cases of the Sudan Ebola virus disease.
Key Takeaways
- Uganda has set up an 84-bed Ebola isolation center in Kampala.
- The facility will treat suspected and confirmed cases of the Sudan Ebola virus disease.
- Support from the World Health Organisation and World Bank was crucial in this initiative.
- Another isolation unit is planned for Mbale.
- Public urged to remain calm as health authorities manage the outbreak.
Kampala, Feb 3 (NationPress) Uganda, with assistance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), has established an 84-bed Ebola isolation and treatment center in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, following a recent outbreak of the virus in the East African nation, as stated by a health official on Monday.
Henry Kyobe Bosa, the Incident Commander at the Ministry of Health, mentioned that the facility located in Mulago National Referral Hospital will handle both suspected and confirmed cases of the Sudan Ebola virus disease (SVD).
"An Ebola isolation unit has been established at Mulago, and a [pre-trained] national emergency medical team has been assigned to manage the cases at the facility," Bosa stated.
"The creation of this isolation unit, along with the training and deployment of the emergency team, has received support from WHO in partnership with the World Bank."
Another isolation facility in Mbale is expected to be operational by the end of Monday, according to Bosa, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Last week, Uganda declared an Ebola outbreak after a 32-year-old nurse tragically lost her life to the disease. The Ministry of Health confirmed that 45 individuals who had contact with the deceased have been identified.
The Ministry of Health has urged the public to stay calm, emphasizing that it is managing the situation and is dedicated to safeguarding all individuals against Ebola, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
According to WHO data, Uganda's previous SVD outbreak began in September 2022 and concluded in January 2023, resulting in 164 cases and 77 fatalities in the country.
The health organization also highlighted that the case fatality rates for Sudan virus disease have fluctuated between 41% and 100% in earlier outbreaks.
Ebola is a rare yet life-threatening illness that can lead to severe outbreaks, particularly in regions of Africa. It is contracted through contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals or individuals. Symptoms include fever, headache, rash, vomiting, and bleeding.
Ebola is classified as a type of viral hemorrhagic fever caused by various species of viruses within the Ebolavirus genus. Initial symptoms resemble those of influenza but can escalate to severe vomiting, bleeding, and neurological issues.
Transmission of Ebola can occur from bats, nonhuman primates, and antelope, after which it can spread from person to person, resulting in outbreaks (where numerous individuals become infected simultaneously). Outbreaks primarily occur in certain regions of Africa.
