A bare-handed relative helps Kule, a senior clinical officer of Bundibugyo Hospital suspected to be infected with Ebola

By Vision Reporters

THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD Katusabe from Kyenjojo district, who had been admitted at Virika Hospital in Fort Portal with suspected Ebola, died yesterday afternoon. If confirmed, his demise would bring to 17 the number of people who
have died since the outbreak of the epidemic in August.

The team, that visited Bundibugyo Hospital yesterday, also learnt that four more medical workers were suspected to be infected.

They were among the nine patients treated at one of the two isolation units in the hospital. All of them were health workers, including the matron, Peluce Tabiita, and a nursing assistant of the UPDF, Pte Fred Lubwama.

The unit, formerly an anti-natal ward, seen by The New Vision, was poorly equipped and understaffed. There was only one male nurse, who was wearing gloves and a mask, but no protective over-all.

The doors were not locked and there was no sign that this was an isolation ward. About five attendants walked in and out, some were wearing either gloves or masks, while others were not protected at all.

One attendant, dressed in white, was touching a patient with her bare hands, as if she was not aware of the danger.
No doctors were seen at the hospital. The super-intendent was still admitted in a private wing of the hospital.

His condition was said to have improved.
Though foreign experts were reported to have come in to help with the treatment, none were seen by The New Vision team at Bundibugyo Hospital. Contrary to findings by The New Vision, the Ministry of Health said only six new cases of Ebola had been reported over the last week, including one health worker.

“All the other six health care workers who had been put under quarantine because of Ebola-related complaints are still under observation,” said a statement by Dr. Sam Zaramba, the Director General of Health Services.

According to Zaramba, experts from the World Health Organisation, Medecins sans Frontieres and the Centres for Disease Control had arrived in the country to help with laboratory diagnosis, case research and management.

A permanent laboratory will be set up this week at the Uganda Virus Research Institute Entebbe to speed up the diagnosis of Ebola and other viral haemorrhagic fevers, while equipment for the laboratory is expected to arrive today, the statement added. Currently, samples have to be taken to South Africa or the Centres for Disease Control in Atlanta, USA.

Meanwhile, the UPDF has deployed a team of medical officers and health educators to Bundibugyo. They will assist in the management of Ebola patients and sensitising the public.

UPDF 2nd Division spokesperson, Lt. Tabaro Kiconco, said more personnel from the UPDF Medical Department would be deployed in Bundibugyo today, while emergency supplies would be delivered to Kabarole.

No new cases have been reported in Kabarole. Two patients with Ebola symptoms have so far been admitted in Buhinga Hospital in Fort-Portal, of which one died.

Following the Ebola outbreak, the five districts of the Rwenzori region have postponed their joint education week celebrations, which were slated to start today in Kasese.

Other reports from Bundibugyo say elders have resorted to consulting their oracles and sacrificing to their ancestors to appease the gods.

By Anne Mugisa, Conan Businge, Matthias Mugisha, Bizimungu Kisakye, John Nzinjah and John Thawite