President Yoweri Museveni has said Uganda’s Ebola outbreak is showing signs of control after the country went five days without recording a new case.
In a televised address to the nation on Wednesday night, Mr Museveni said the absence of new infections showed that the outbreak was slowing down. He also said the few cases recorded in Uganda resulted mainly from poor handling of sick people who had crossed from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The story is clear. Some sick people from Congo came. They were not handled properly, carefully here. That’s all,” Mr Museveni said. “In spite of all that, for five days now, no new cases. It looks as if the fire of Ebola has started going down.”
Uganda Records 19 Ebola Cases
According to Ministry of Health statistics, Uganda has recorded 19 confirmed Ebola Virus Disease cases since the outbreak began.
Of these cases, 14 were imported, while five involved Ugandan nationals. The ministry also reported two deaths, both among imported cases.
Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, said five patients have recovered after receiving treatment. They include four Congolese nationals and one Ugandan.
However, 12 patients remain under treatment. Health officials are providing supportive care to manage symptoms and complications because there are no approved drugs for Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease.
Health Workers Among Ugandan Cases
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health, said health workers form the majority of Ugandan infections.
He said four health workers at one Kampala health facility contracted the virus. The fifth Ugandan case involved a driver.
According to Dr Olaro, health workers at Kampala Hospital had tried to resuscitate a patient before they knew the patient had Ebola. During the process, they faced high-risk exposure to the virus.
The Uganda Medical Association says about 100 health workers have been placed under quarantine since May 15. They were exposed after treating Ebola patients in different health facilities in Kampala.
During the address, Mr Museveni criticised health workers who handled patients without sufficient protection.
“Ebola is an aggressive disease, but in my view, it is not as difficult to fight as either HIV/AIDS or COVID-19. Even AIDS was easy to fight, in my opinion, but COVID-19 was very dangerous because it was spreading through breathing,” the President said.
He added that COVID-19 posed a greater challenge because it spread through the air.
Museveni Urges Ugandans to Avoid Physical Contact
Mr Museveni said Ebola remains easier to prevent because it spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids.
“Now, the good thing with Ebola is that it spreads through contact. If it is spreading through contact, intimate contact, then it’s spreading because of carelessness,” he said.
The President urged Ugandans and communities in the region to stop practices that increase the risk of infection. He cited the washing of dead bodies, especially where the deceased had Ebola-like symptoms.
He also warned pastors against touching sick people while praying for them. He said God could hear prayers even without physical contact.
“Some of the people who are dying most in some of the areas I don’t want to talk about are pastors and health workers, because of touching,” he said.
Mr Museveni asked people to alert health workers immediately when they notice Ebola-like symptoms. He said families should not hide sick people or handle suspected Ebola cases on their own.
“Handling dead bodies is another big problem. Those customs like washing dead bodies were there, but now that there is danger, if somebody is sick, call the doctors because the doctors can tell you what sort of sickness it is. Don’t just hide and just do it yourself,” he said.
He also discouraged handshaking during the outbreak.
“You now know how Ebola spreads: saliva, blood, sweat, vomit, sperms – Ebola can stay in the man for nine months. This shaking of hands, please…. shaking of hands for what? There is a problem, just wave at people,” he added.
Government Expands Ebola Response
Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of Health, said Uganda has mounted a strong response to the Ebola outbreak.
He said the government has restricted gatherings and weekly markets in border districts. Authorities have also strengthened community awareness, contact tracing, isolation, and quarantine measures.
Dr Baryomunsi also confirmed ongoing plans for Uganda to work with partners, including the World Health Organisation and the DR Congo government, to establish Ebola treatment centres in DR Congo.
Government says the move will help reduce the importation of cases into Uganda and speed up regional containment efforts.
Ebola Situation in Uganda
The Ministry of Health’s June 9 Ebola factsheet shows that Uganda had recorded no new cases, 19 cumulative cases, 12 active cases, two deaths, and five recoveries.
The ministry had also listed 783 contacts of patients. Ebola has an incubation period of up to 21 days.
How Ebola Spreads
Health officials say Ebola can spread through direct contact with blood, urine, saliva, faeces, sweat, vomit, and other body fluids from an infected person.
The disease can also spread through unsterilised equipment, soiled clothing, and contact with infected wildlife, especially bats and monkeys.
Ebola Symptoms and Prevention
Common Ebola symptoms include high fever, fatigue, chest pain, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, joint and body pain, vomiting, rash, and unexplained bleeding.
Health officials advise the public to avoid physical contact with anyone showing Ebola symptoms. They also urge regular handwashing and proper hygiene.
People who develop Ebola-like symptoms should seek medical care immediately. Burial and handling of suspected Ebola victims should only take place under the supervision of health teams.
