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A couple of weeks ago in Update: Ebola Reported In Uganda’s Capital, I wrote about the re-emergence of Ebola in Uganda, a disease that had not been seen in that country in nearly a year (see Uganda: Ebola Sudan And A Timely Dispatch From The EID Journal).
Between the diligent newshounds on FluTrackers, day-to-day coverage on Crofsblog, and informative blogs by Tara C. Smith (here) and Dr. Vincent Racaniello (here), this story has received a good deal of coverage these past couple of weeks.
Overnight the World Health Organization released an update which indicates that no new confirmed cases have been detected in more than 10 days.
An encouraging sign, but not proof that the outbreak has ended. The incubation period for Ebola can be up to three weeks.
Here is the latest from WHO:
Global Alert and Response (GAR)
14 August 2012 - The Ministry of Health of Uganda (MoH) continues to work with partners including WHO, CDC, Red Cross, MSF, World Vision, PREDICT, among others to control the outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Kibaale district. The national and district task forces continue to meet daily to coordinate the response to the outbreak.
To date, 24 probable and confirmed cases including 16 deaths have been reported. 10 cases have been laboratory confirmed by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe. The most recent confirmed case was admitted in Kagadi isolation facility on 4 August 2012.
Suspected cases which tested negative during the laboratory investigations have been discarded as Ebola patients, treated symptomatically for their ailments and discharged following recovery. A total of 43 people have been discharged from the isolation facility including one confirmed case. With the support of the psychosocial team, these 43 people have been counselled prior to discharge and reintegrated into the community. Even for the people who were negative for Ebola, psychosocial counselling of the communities to which they are returning, has been very important. It has allayed fears and reduced stigma, enabling them to be accepted back in the community.
All contacts of probable and confirmed cases are followed up daily for 21 days and are monitored for any possible signs or symptoms of illness. All alerts of suspected cases in the other districts have been investigated and are negative for Ebola.
In Kibaale district, the MoH is working in close coordination with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in clinical management of suspected and confirmed cases.
Social mobilization teams comprising Red Cross volunteers and village health teams have reached most of the villages and households in the most affected sub-counties in Kibaale district. These activities are reinforced by the distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials, and by the broadcast of health awareness messages on radio and by film vans.
Neighbouring countries
Countries sharing borders with Uganda are taking steps to enhance surveillance for Ebola; at the time of this update, none of them have reported any confirmed cases.
WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions are applied to Uganda.
The spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (which include Ebola, Marburg & Lassa) has thus far been limited. They strike quickly, with profound and debilitating symptoms, and that helps to limit human-to-human spread.
In terms of numbers affected, the worst known outbreak occurred in Uganda in 2000-2001, with 425 cases and 224 deaths (cite).
Since this is a zoonotic disease, the index case in each outbreak is believed to have contracted it from contact with an infected animal. The virus may then spread to others via direct contact with their infected blood and/or secretions.
Thus, the virus is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such secretions when caring for infected persons. People can also be exposed to Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions
The CDC’s Viral Special Pathogens Branch (VSPB) maintains a helpful Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever page, with background information on the disease, and the latest Outbreak Notices.
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