A new Ebola case has been confirmed in Kasese district in western Uganda.
The confirmed case is a 9-year-old Congolese girl who travelled to Uganda with her mother to seek treatment. The girl is believed to have entered the country through the Mpondwe border crossing in Bwera, Kasese yesterday Wednesday.
The girl was identified at the border crossing during screening where she presented with high fever, body weakness, rash and unexplained mouth bleeding. She is receiving treatment at the Bwera Ebola Treatment Unit.
Dr Joyce Moriku, the State Minister for Health in-charge of primary health care has asked all Ugandans to cooperate with health protocols.
“Cooperate with health workers, immigration and security officials to ensure effective screening at entry points to stop the spread of Ebola to other parts of the country.”
This is the fourth confirmed case of Ebola since the deadly disease was declared in DRC in August 2018. The first three cases and deaths included two boys and their grandmother who had previously travelled to DRC to bury a relative.
To date more than 2,000 Congolese have been affected by the disease. The outbreak has since been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO. The confirmed case comes at a time when Uganda’s Ebola response plan is hanging in balance due to a lack of finance.
(Source: URN)
