Coordination
of response
The National
Task Force for the Control of Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers has established
the following teams to manage the response to the outbreak:
Field epidemiology
One hundred and
thirty-six health care workers and volunteers in mobile teams are implementing
active surveillance in Gulu district using a standardized case definition,
patient and contact registration forms. Training of health care workers
is ongoing.
Teams have also been trained in the collection and burial of patients.
Case management
The wards in
Gulu Hospital and Lacor St. Mary's Hospital are being managed effectively
by trained workers and strict barrier nursing is in place. Training
of new nurses is being carried out.
Diagnostic
laboratory
The laboratory
set up in Gulu district by the WHO Collaborating Centre at the US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States is operational
and diagnostic tests are under way.
Public education
The Ugandan Ministry
of Health is using radio, videos, posters and flyers to disseminate health
education messages. Public awareness of the disease and its containment
has increased.