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This development, probably related to the ongoing epidemic in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), precedes a key meeting Friday at the World Health Organization (WHO), which will decide whether an international public health emergency should be announced .
"The second of three people confirmed positive for the Ebola virus has died," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic in Geneva. "Obviously, it is very important that the Ministry of Health and WHO move quickly to this area where cases have been identified to ensure that anyone who may have been in contact with them has been followed. . "
According to Ugandan authorities who confirmed the epidemic on Tuesday, the victims are a five-year-old Ugandan boy and his 50-year-old grandmother.
The boy became ill after visiting the health zone of Mabalako, DRC, to witness the burial of his grandfather, a confirmed Ebola patient, who died in the community on 1 June.
The boy and his family then returned to Uganda via the Bwera border on Monday, where relatives asked for help at Kagando hospital for symptoms such as vomiting and bloody diarrhea.
Health workers identified Ebola as a possible cause of illness and he was transferred to an Ebola treatment center in Bwera, Kasese.
He died Tuesday night before being buried in dignity, according to Ugandan authorities, who said that in addition to the grandmother of the boy who died of the Ebola virus, his three-year-old brother had also tested positive. .
A fourth suspected case – a 23-year-old man from Mukungu village in Katwe – is also awaiting confirmation from the laboratory and 27 victims' contacts have been identified so far, the health ministry added.
The measures of the intervention plan include the ban on public gatherings
Ugandan authorities also reported that the Minister of Health, the WHO country representative and other partners met Wednesday at Bwera Hospital to discuss a plan of action.
Initial measures to prevent the transmission of the Ebola virus include the ban on mbad gatherings such as markets, vaccination of contacts and health workers and a public information radio campaign to dispel concerns and rumors about the epidemic.
Along with WHO, the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, has announced that it has launched an Ebola Emergency Response Plan in Uganda, in response to recent developments.
This decision follows months of preparation and prevention efforts as Ebola cases continued to increase in the DRC, where more than 2,000 infections and nearly 1,400 deaths were recorded in the worst epidemic recorded in the world. the country after its appearance last August.
"Our thoughts are with this young boy's family. This is a tragic reminder that even a case of Ebola is too much of a case, "said Dr. Doreen Mulenga, UNICEF Representative in Uganda. "We must do everything in our power to put an end to this epidemic and prevent other unnecessary deaths."
In recent months, UNICEF has helped the Ugandan government implement extensive programs to prepare communities in many districts of western Uganda bordering the DRC for a possible epidemic.
Rapid search for professional medical help is 'a priority', says UNICEF
In an effort to empower communities in many districts of western Uganda bordering the DRC against a possible Ebola outbreak, UNICEF has already made nearly 350,000 home visits to share information about the disease. and the importance of seeking help quickly.
More than 14,000 public meetings were also held in schools, churches, mosques, markets, bus stops and funeral gatherings to discuss the prevention of Ebola and affect around 2.4 million people .
Other measures include capacity building for infection prevention and control in health facilities through interventions in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene. and the training of nearly 1,500 Ugandan Red Cross volunteers and para-social workers to help communities facing the stress of Ebola.
"Awareness is the best way to prevent the spread of this virus," said Dr. Mulenga. "To do this, it is essential to strategically communicate the appropriate knowledge and best practices to the affected communities."
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