Ebola Spread to Uganda Eastern Border?
Recombinomics Commentary
December 6, 2007
a team of epidemiologists from Kampala was reported to be heading to eastern Uganda to investigate reports that Ms Olive Mukite, the district information officer of Sironko died yesterday of suspected Ebola infection at Mbale referral hospital.
This follows reports of alert cases in Mbarara, Kabarole, Mubende and Kanungu; where 20-year-old Ivan Asimwe died yesterday.
The above comments raise concerns that Ebola has spread across the southern Uganda (see satellite map). The list represents most of the major cities in southern Uganda and extends from the western to eastern borders. The deaths of two of the suspect cases increases the likelihood these cases will be confirmed Ebola infections. Confirmed cases have already been reported in Kampala. The neighboring countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya have announced monitoring of border crossings.
Earlier reports confirmed that the suspect cases in south western Uganda were infected with Ebola and raised concerns that the spread had been extensive. The species involved is new and symptoms are not typical of earlier Ebola outbreaks.
The expanded geographical reach compounds problems linked to the high number of fatal infections in health care workers. Some workers had left because of compensation issues, and more may leave because of safety concerns due to lack of PPE’s. Similarly, patients are being discharged from hospitals and suspect cases are fleeing.
More detail on these suspect cases would be useful.
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