WHO deploys emergency team to help Uganda fight new Ebola outbreak

177

Kampala, Jan 31 (IANS) The World Health Organisation (WHO) said that it has deployed an emergency medical team to help Uganda fight a deadly Ebola outbreak that killed a health worker in Kampala, the Ugandan capital.

The personnel will provide technical and logistical support to Uganda’s Ministry of Health, said the WHO in a statement issued here.

The ministry on Thursday declared an Ebola outbreak after a 32-year-old male nurse working at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala succumbed to Sudan Ebola virus Wednesday, marking the eighth outbreak of the deadly disease in the East African country.

The WHO said it is “working closely with Ugandan health authorities to revitalise a robust surveillance and case management system, community mobilisation, and risk communication in response to the outbreak.”

The confirmed case, designated as the index case who initially developed fever-like symptoms, sought treatment at multiple health facilities, including Mulago, as well as from a traditional healer, according to health authorities.

A total of 45 contacts have been listed and isolated, including 30 health workers and patients from Mulago Hospital, 11 family members of the deceased, and four health workers of Saidina Abubakar Islamic Hospital in Matugga, according to Diana Atwine, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health.

“The vaccination of all contacts of the deceased against Ebola virus disease is set to commence immediately. The available doses of the Ebola vaccine are prioritised for contacts and health workers,” Atwine told the press on Thursday in Kampala, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes various symptoms, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalised pain or malaise, and, in many cases, internal and external bleeding.

According to the WHO, the fatality rate for those who contract Ebola ranges from 50 per cent to 89 per cent, depending on the viral subtype.

–IANS

int/jk/rad

Go to Source

Disclaimer

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by BhaskarLive.in and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of BhaskarLive.in We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, BhaskarLive.in takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.

Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.

If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.

MGID