UGANDA: Three Ebola cases confirmed in Mbarara

UGANDA: Three Ebola cases confirmed in Mbarara

Sixteen people are now under surveillance for possible Ebola infection at
Mbarara University Hospital in southwestern Uganda, after reportedly
coming into contact with a Ugandan army private, Samuel Bandese, who died
at the hospital on 27 October and whose samples tested positive for Ebola
antigens, the Ugandan independent 'Monitor' newspaper reported on Sunday.
The group included 15 hospital staff and a prison inmate, according to Dr
Sam Okware, chairman of Uganda's National Task Force on the disease,
quoted in the report.

Three confirmed cases, including one death, had been reported in Mbarara
district, with samples confirmed by a specialist laboratory in Gulu
district, northern Uganda, where the current Ebola outbreak first
occurred, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported in its daily
outbreak report on Monday. The two most recent cases had contact with the
initial case, who subsequently died, WHO said. No other confirmed cases
had been reported among contacts who were being intensively followed up
and monitored, it added. A WHO-led team arrived in Mbarara from Gulu on
Thursday, 2 November, and was actively involved in replicating the
techniques of case management, epidemiology and surveillance and
coordination/logistics used to contain the Ebola outbreak in Gulu. The
team had set up an isolation ward with adequate protective equipment, and
were carrying out contact tracing using the standardised procedures
established in Gulu, WHO added.

As of 6 November, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has reported cumulative
national figures of 281 cases, including 91 deaths, it said. The UN body
recommends no special restrictions on travel or trade to or from Uganda.
"Many countries have routine health regulations concerning travel and
trade. No specific measures with respect to Ebola haemorrhagic fever are
warranted or advised," it stated on Friday.

Nairobi, 6 November 2000, 15:00 gmt