KAMPALA/WASHINGTON – The United States of America has said it has confidence in Uganda’s ability to contain the outbreak of Ebola.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the US Embassy says that it has already invested in Uganda’s preparedness to fight the deadly disease that has spread from the neighbouring DR Congo.
“The United States has strong confidence in the Ugandan government’s ability to respond to the outbreak in coordination with partners. The U.S. government has invested heavily in Uganda’s preparations to manage Ebola through both technical and financial assistance, and we will continue to provide assistance to prevent the spread of the disease,” the statement reads in part.
“For updates on the situation, we encourage you to follow the Ugandan Ministry of Health as well as the World Health Organization’s Ebola situation reports,” it adds.
On Tuesday, June 11, the Ministry of Health confirmed three cases of Ebola in the western district of Kasese near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
One of the victims, a five-year-old boy, has died from Ebola, health officials have said.
Officials said that his grandmother and younger brother also have the disease.
More than 2,000 cases have been recorded in DR Congo in the last 10 months – most of which have been fatal.
The boy is said to have travelled across the border with his family from DR Congo on Sunday.
He was then taken to a Ugandan hospital after exhibiting symptoms, including vomiting blood, officials said.
Two relatives of the boy had tested positive for Ebola, officials said.
The World Health Organization (WHO), citing Uganda’s Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, announced on Twitter that the boy died on Tuesday.
Ebola virus spreads to people through direct contact with bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from EVD. This can occur when a person touches the infected body fluids (or objects that are contaminated with them), and the virus gets in through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can also spread to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected fruit bats or primates. People can get the virus through sexual contact as well.
Ebola survivors may experience difficult side effects after their recovery, such as tiredness, muscle aches, eye and vision problems and stomach pain. Survivors may also experience stigma as they re-enter their communities.
