Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type bool in /usr/www/users/urnnet/a/story.php on line 43 Ebola Outbreak: Health Surveillance Heightened At Uganda-DRC Border in Kasese :: Uganda Radionetwork
The surveillance has been concentrated along the Mpondwe border point and Katwe landing site on Lake Edward, which are the key entry points for communities across the two countries.
Healthcare workers prepare to inoculate people for Ebola suspicion to take precautions against the disease in Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo on July 27, 2019.-WHO Image
There is heightened health surveillance at the Uganda-DRC Border
in Kasese District following a fresh outbreak of Ebola in the Eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo- DRC.
On Monday, the World Health Organization-WHO on Monday warned of a
potential Ebola resurgence in the DRC after a woman died of the disease. The
woman lived in Butembo, a city in North Kivu Province and an epicentre of a
previous Ebola outbreak that was declared over in June.
More than 70 people who came in direct contact with the woman
while she was contagious have already been identified.
The surveillance has been concentrated along the Mpondwe border point and
Katwe landing site on Lake Edward, which are the key entry points for
communities across the two countries.
Dr Yusuf Baseke, the Kasese District Health Officer, says the outbreak of Ebola
poses a great risk to the health system in Kasese. Baseke says through
cross border business is still restricted as a Covid-19 control measure, several
Ugandans in the cargo business and landing sites continue to interact with
persons from DRC.
He says they are restoring Ebola screening points along the entry
points.
//Cue in: “We are still having…
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Dr Baseke adds that they are prepared to deal with any outbreak. He says
that the district has set up a disease surveillance team that will be
re-energized to take on the prevention and control tasks.
//Cue in: “We are ready….
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The Deputy RDC Joshua Masereka says they have already engaged
local councils to be vigilant and alert health teams of any suspected Ebola
patient from DRC.
//Cue in: “We have alerted….
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John Kananura, the Katwe Town Council mayor says they have decided to
re-enforce adherence to screening at the Katwe landing site. However,
he says there has been limited interaction between the Congolese and Ugandan
fishermen since the Covid-19 lockdown.
