Ebola: Kibaale public gatherings ban lifted

By Ismael Kasooha

The national Ebola task force has lifted a ban that had been slapped on all public gatherings in Kibaale district.

“We have deemed it necessary to allow public gatherings (in places) such as markets, schools and any other social gatherings to open up because the Ebola epidemic is now contained,” Dr. Jackson Amony, the national coordinator of the Ebola task force said.

All public gatherings had been banned following the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic that was declared on July 28.

Amony said that the epidemic is now in the low risk period and the public can now go on with their normal business but with caution.

“We are waiting for the next two days and if no Ebola case is registered then Kibaale will be declared Ebola free,” said Dr. Amony. The last confirmed Ebola case was registered on August 3, and since then all the blood samples from the suspects have tested negative.

Dr. Amony said that the ministry of health is now more prepared to respond to outbreaks and to reduce on fatalities. Dr. Amony said that the ministry now wants to emphasize infection control for the health workers and urged the public to also invest in their health.

He attributed the success in handling the Ebola epidemic in Kibaale to the rapid response and collaboration of the other partners such as world health organization, Medicines Sans Frontires-MSF and local NGOs.

The ministry of health declared Ebola Sudan in Kibaale on July 28 after the death of 14 members of one family and a clinical officer Claire Muhumuza who was working at Kagadi Hospital.