By Vision Reporters

Four more patients suspected to be suffering from Ebola have died as 14 new cases are also currently isolated in wards at Kagadi and Mulago hospitals.

This brings the death toll to 18 in the country's third massive wave of Ebola outbreaks in the last one decade.

The first was in Gulu in 2000, followed by that in Bundibugyo in 2007 where hundreds of people died and others were infected.

Medical authorities were also Tuesday investigating a suspected Ebola case in Mbarara. The case was placed under isolation.

The patients who died on Monday all from Kibaale were identified as Susan Nabulya from Burunzi village, the first patient to be admitted at Kagadi hospital, five-year-old Nicholas Asingwire (Kenga village), 12-year-old Kato (Nyamarunda village) and Frediano Nsabimaana of Nyamugusa village in Bwamiramira sub-county.

Another 11 new suspected Ebola patients were Tuesday admitted at Kagadi hospital in Kibaale and three others in Mulago hospital in Kampala. 

The number of suspected cases at Kagadi hospital has reached 18, which puts the total suspected cases at Kagadi and Mulago to 21.

The three admitted in Mulago are also from Kibaale district; a four-year old boy, his mother and uncle, according to the deputy executive director, Dr. Doreen Male.

However, the health ministry in a statement issued Tuesday said there were 18 patients in Kagadi hospital, of whom three are confirmed to have contracted Ebola.

The health ministry's surveillance team in Kibaale, according to the statement, is, "actively and closely monitoring 40 people who are suspected to have got in contact with the dead."

"These contacts have not shown any signs of the disease but will be monitored for 21 days," said the statement, adding that after 21 days, they will be declared Ebola-free if no signs are detected.

Kibaale district health officer, Dr. Dan Kyamanywa said that the new suspected Ebola patients were picked from Kagadi town council and the sub-counties of Nyamarunda, Burora, Bwamiramira, Kyaterekera and Muhorro.

The patients, however, on Tuesday protested being poorly fed at the hospital.

One of the patients forced his way out of the isolation ward, as the others caused commotion and were calmed by the police, local and district leaders.

"It is true that we do not have money to feed these patients, but we are making arrangements to get money and buy them food," one of the health officials said on condition of anonymity.

Dr. Kyamanywa said the Medicines Sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) had donated plampenats (packed foods) for the patients. But patients had refused to eat the food.

The chief administrative officer of Kibaale, Emmanuel Ssenoga said that the district has not received any funds since the financial year started.

Meanwhile, hotlines have been created for all people to call, in case they suspect anyone to be infected with the disease.

Ebola surveillance teams can be reached on 0774 451762, 0706 506294, and 0757 174556.

(Reporting by Conan Businge, Ismael Kasooha & Viola Nabatanzi)