Why tourists are not in danger after the confirmation of the Ebola case in Uganda | Buzz travel

There is no threat to tourists currently traveling to Uganda. Future visitors planning a trip to this country of East Africa should not consider canceling. According to the Uganda Tourism Board, a widely published Ebola case this morning has no direct chance of becoming a threat to visitors. The situation seems to be isolated according to all indications in this case under control. Uganda has been preparing for months and has vaccinated 4,700 health professionals in 165 health centers.

However, travel professionals in Uganda are on high alert. A known incoming operator told eTN Wednesday morning. "It's worse in Uganda after the confirmation of the death of an Ebola victim. The deceased, a child, had gone from DR Congo.

Ugandan Minister of Health, Hon. Aceng Jane Ruth and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed Tuesday a case of Ebola virus disease in Uganda and issued a press release. After a more serious epidemic in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, many warnings have already been reported in Uganda. This is the first confirmed case in Uganda during the Ebola epidemic in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The confirmed case is a child from the Democratic Republic of Congo aged 5 who traveled with his family on 9 June 2019. The child and his family entered the country through the Bwera border post and requested Medical care at Kagando hospital where Ebola health workers identified as a possible cause of illness. The child was transferred to the Bwera Ebola treatment unit to be taken care of. Confirmation was made today by the Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI). The child is cared for and receives supportive treatment at the USU Bwera, and contacts are monitored.

The Ministry of Health and WHO have sent a rapid response team to Kasese to identify other people who may be at risk and ensure that they are monitored and cared for if they fall down. also sick. Uganda has experience in managing Ebola outbreaks. In anticipation of a possible case of importation during the current epidemic in the DRC, Uganda has vaccinated nearly 4,700 health workers in 165 health facilities (including in the US). 39, establishment where the child is cared for); surveillance of the disease has intensified and health staff trained in the recognition of the symptoms of the disease. Ebola treatment units are in place.

In response to this case, the ministry is scaling up community education and psychosocial support and will undertake vaccination of people who have been in contact with the patient and at-risk health workers who have never been vaccinated.

Ebola virus disease is a serious disease that is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of a person with the disease (such as vomiting, stool or blood). The first symptoms resemble other diseases and therefore require increased vigilance by health workers and community workers, especially in areas of Ebola transmission, to be able to make a diagnosis. Symptoms can be sudden and include:

• Fever

• Tired
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Irritated throat

People who have been in contact with a person with the disease are offered the vaccine and are asked to monitor their state of health for 21 days to make sure they do not get sick either.

The experimental vaccine used in the DRC and by health and front-line health workers in Uganda has so far been effective in protecting people against the development of the disease and has allowed those who develop it to have better chances of survival. The Ministry strongly encourages those identified as contacts to take this protective action.

Experimental therapies and advanced supportive care, as well as patients seeking care soon after the onset of symptoms, increase the chances of survival.

The Ministry of Health has taken the following measures to limit the spread of the disease in the country:

• The district administration and local councils in the affected area were tasked with ensuring that anyone with signs and symptoms of Ebola in the community was immediately reported to health workers and provided counseling and testing.
• The Ministry of Health sets up units in the affected district and in referral hospitals to handle potential cases.
• Social mobilization activities are intensifying and educational material is being disseminated.

There is no confirmed case in any other part of the country.

The ministry works with international partners coordinated by the World Health Organization.

The Ministry of Health calls on the general public and health workers to work closely together, to be vigilant and to support each other to help anyone with symptoms receive early care. The ministry will continue to inform the general public of progress and new developments.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, an Ebola crisis is underway. Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO's health emergencies, Rob Holden, head of the Ebola outbreak, told the media that the Ebola cases had told the media the June 2, that died, 552 survivors were confirmed in Congo. It should be noted that in the last two weeks, they recorded 88 new cases each week, which means that in April, the average was 126 per week. The numbers have stabilized and actually decreased in the last two weeks.

However, transmission was still important in a number of health zones, including Butembo and Mabalako. However, health officials have noted a significant decrease in transmission in Katwa, which was the very hot epicenter of the epidemic six weeks ago. There have been improvements or decreases in transmission and, on the other hand, areas in which transmission has been maintained.

The epidemic currently affects 75 health zones in 12 health zones in North Kivu and Ituri. As a reminder, North Kivu and Ituri have 664 health zones spread over 48 health zones. During this epidemic, 179 health zones were affected overall and 22 health zones. You see, with 75 health zones now affected in 12 health zones, this represents a much smaller geographic footprint than seen during the outbreak.

Mabalako is not a city, it is a rural area; the population density is lower, which is a good thing from the point of view of the transmission, but the distances are longer, the communities are much more rural, the cases are harder to find, the people are more difficult – it is much harder to get them to isolation centers and it is difficult to find everyone who needs to be vaccinated, so there are compromises to be made at each stage.