FALSE ALARM: AMURU RESIDENT DIED OF CRIMEAN-CONGO FEVER NOT EBOLA
Test result on samples taken from a resident of Amuru district who passed away after experiencing hemorrhagic fever has shown that the patient died of Crimean-Congo, a tick-born viral disease which is not a health emergency.
Amuru resident district commissioner, Stephen Odong Latek, made the declaration on Monday while responding to fears caused by a social media fake claiming that Amuru district has registered its first case of Ebola.
He said the social media post bears an email that was meant for internal use by officials when the suspected case happened two weeks ago.
The email bears the name ODONG Latek, with the title “Regrettably Amuru registers its first case of Ebola” and further stating that “Case Traced, moved to medical facilities with signs and symptoms but died upon arrival at the facility. Sample taken and results turn out to be positive, Surveillance activated to document all the contacts to the victims.”
Latek said the mail is being circulated as though it is a new post, thereby misleading the people.
“When the patient died, we suspected Ebola but the tests done by the Uganda Virus Research Institute confirmed the disease to be Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever,” reiterated Latek.
Uganda is battling an outbreak of Ebola Sudan strain which has so far being confirmed in four districts, namely Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kagadi and Kassanda districts.
The RDC stated that Amuru district has already activated the district task force and emergency epidemic response mechanisms to mitigate the spread of Ebola from areas where it is prevalent.
Clovis Oywellu, the health Educator of Amuru district, however advised members of the public to be on alert and report any suspected cases to health workers as they remain committed to fight Ebola in case of any outbreak in the district