Earth Watch Report
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| 16.11.2012 | Epidemic Hazard | Uganda | Central Uganda, [Sombwe Parish, Nyimbwa Sub County, Luwero district] |  |
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Epidemic Hazard in Uganda on Wednesday, 14 November, 2012 at 15:10 (03:10 PM) UTC.
| Description | |
| The deadly Ebola hemorrhagic fever has broken out in the central Ugandan district of Luwero about one month after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the East African country free of the disease. Joaquim Saweka, the WHO country representative told Xinhua by telephone on Wednesday that the outbreak was confirmed on Tuesday following laboratory tests that turned out positive for the disease. “Yes that is true, we have dispatched one team to make preliminary assessment and also set up an isolation unit,” he said. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Sombwe Parish, Nyimbwa Sub County, Luwero district which is located about 40km north of the capital Kampala. Joseph Okware, the Luwero District Health Officer was quoted by Daily Monitor on Wednesday as saying that two people belonging to the same family had died of the disease over the weekend. The outbreak comes at a time when the country is still experiencing the deadly Marburg fever in several parts of western Uganda. In July this year the Ebola outbreak in the Midwestern Ugandan district of Kibaale left at least 20 people dead. Ebola victims present with symptoms like fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, measles-like rash, red eyes, and sometimes with bleeding from body openings. | |
| Biohazard name: | Ebola |
| Biohazard level: | 4/4 Hazardous |
| Biohazard desc.: | Viruses and bacteria that cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and for which vaccines or other treatments are not available, such as Bolivian and Argentine hemorrhagic fevers, H5N1(bird flu), Dengue hemorrhagic fever, Marburg virus, Ebola virus, hantaviruses, Lassa fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and other hemorrhagic or unidentified diseases. When dealing with biological hazards at this level the use of a Hazmat suit and a self-contained oxygen supply is mandatory. The entrance and exit of a Level Four biolab will contain multiple showers, a vacuum room, an ultraviolet light room, autonomous detection system, and other safety precautions designed to destroy all traces of the biohazard. Multiple airlocks are employed and are electronically secured to prevent both doors opening at the same time. All air and water service going to and coming from a Biosafety Level 4 (P4) lab will undergo similar decontamination procedures to eliminate the possibility of an accidental release. |
| Symptoms: | |
| Status: | confirmed |
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Epidemic Hazard in Uganda on Wednesday, 14 November, 2012 at 15:10 (03:10 PM) UTC.
| Updated: | Thursday, 15 November, 2012 at 11:55 UTC |
| Description | |
| At least three people are confirmed to have died from Ebola haemorrhagic fever since last month, the health ministry has said. All the three victims were members of the same family in Kakute sub-county, Sambu Parish, Nyimbwa sub-county. âA total of three people have since died since the onset of the outbreak in Luweero district,â health minister, Dr Christine Odoa said Thursday while addressing journalists at the media centre. The first case, a boda boda rider died on October 25 after presenting signs of high fever and bleeding from some body parts, although no samples were taken for testing, nor was the case reported to the health centre. The second case, a 25 year old woman died on Saturday after nursing the boda boda cyclist while the third, also a member of the same family, died on Monday at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV. At least five people suspected to have come into contact with those infected or the deceased are under isolation. Two of these admitted at Mulago Hospital, one at Bombo Hospital and three in Luweero. The acting director general of health services, Dr Dennis Lwamafa said health experts were also tracing at least fifteen suspected cases in different parts of the country. The recent Ebola outbreak comes barely two months after the country was declared Ebola-free. The health ministry has dispatched a team of experts to assess the situation in Luweero, and plans are underway to create isolation centres at Nyimbywa Health Centre IV and Bombo Hospital. Dr Miriam Nanyunja, the WHO disease prevention and control advisor said a team of health experts had arrived to boost efforts to contain the epidemic. | |
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Epidemic Hazard in Uganda on Wednesday, 14 November, 2012 at 15:10 (03:10 PM) UTC.
| Updated: | Friday, 16 November, 2012 at 12:40 UTC |
| Description | |
| Three more residents of Nyimbwa in Luweero district have tested positive to the Ebola haemorrhagic fever. This brings the number of confirmed Ebola cases in the district since last month to six, three of whom have died. "The blood samples for three people which we sent yesterday have come out indicating they are also infected with Ebola" Richard Kawenyera, the district Ebola surveillance officer, told Saturday Vision yesterday (Friday). Kawenyera did not divulge details about the patients saying he was too busy. But it is believed that they are related to the three members of the same family who died in Kakute sub-county, Sambu Parish, Nyimbwa sub-county. The first case, a boda boda rider died on October 25 after presenting signs of high fever and bleeding from some body parts, although no samples were taken for testing, nor was the case reported to the health centre. The second case, a 25 year old woman died on Saturday after nursing the boda boda cyclist while the third, also a member of the same family, died on Monday at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV. About two other people suspected to have come into contact with those infected or the deceased are under isolation at Mulago Hospital. The acting director general of health services, Dr Dennis Lwamafa said health experts were also tracing at least fifteen suspected cases in different parts of the country. The recent Ebola outbreak comes barely two months after the country was declared Ebola-free. The health ministry has dispatched a team of experts to assess the situation in Luweero, and plans are underway to create isolation centres at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV and Bombo Hospital. Dr Miriam Nanyunja, the WHO disease prevention and control advisor said a team of health experts had arrived to boost efforts to contain the epidemic. | |
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