Uganda’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization announced at the end of last month an outbreak of the Ebola virus of the Sudan strain in Uganda, the outbreak which began in Mubende district. The current eruption is in the 11th place of all time in terms of its size, in relation to dozens of eruptions recorded to date. The Ministry of Health has begun to prepare for the first case of the disease in Israel, and is conducting evaluations for the training of staff at the Medical Centers and Medical Centers
The situation in Uganda:
- There are 80 cases – 60 confirmed and another 20 suspected
- 46 deaths – 24 confirmed and another 22 suspected
- Over 1000 known contacts
- 10 medical staff members have been injured so far, 5 of them died
- 24 are recovering
- 7 districts in Uganda that are defined as high risk.
Map of the spread of Ebola in Uganda:
Photo: Ministry of Health
The disease is characterized by fever combined with a strong headache, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain or unexplained bleeding. Ebola is a disease with a mortality rate higher than 30% and there is no monoclonal antibody or vaccine approved for use against the strain that broke out in Uganda (Sudan).
The incubation period of the Ebola disease is up to 21 days. In the event that a fever appears, which can also be accompanied by headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained bleeding, during the stay in Uganda or during a period of up to 21 days after the stay in Uganda, the following instructions must be followed:
- While staying abroad – you should immediately seek medical help only if necessary and update your stay in Uganda.
- In Israel – you must immediately go into isolation while notifying the attending physician during your stay in Uganda.
- Any person who has been in Uganda in the last 21 days and suffers from a fever above 38 degrees, will be defined as a suspect of Ebola.
- Do not treat the suspect in community clinics.