Mbarara Ebola suspects negative

By James Mujuni Blood samples from two suspected Ebola patients in Mbarara Hospital have tested negative. The samples were taken from two females admitted to the hospital with symptoms similar to those of Ebola. The blood samples were sent to Gulu for testing last weekend. The secretary of the district Ebola task force, Dr. Amooti Kaguna, yesterday said the number of Ebola cases in the district remained at five with four deaths. "The tests carried out on two suspects last week have proved negative. "Therefore from November 9, we have not had any new cases in the district except for the four deaths earlier," Kaguna said. One of the suspects identified as Babishekyeramu of Biharwe, Kashari county, died last Friday. She was buried in the government cemetery at Nyamityobora, near Mbarara town. The other patient, Kyomuhangi, wife to a UPDF soldier and resident of Rwashamaire in Ntungamo, has now been transferred from the isolation unit to the general medical ward. Ebola broke out in Mbarara district on October 28, with, the death of a UPDF soldier Cpl Samuel Bandese. It is said Bandese came from Gulu where Ebola first broke out killing scores of people including medical workers. His death triggered off panic in Mbarara despite assurances by health authorities that the outbreak was under control. Ends.