The Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Uganda
On 20th September 2022, Uganda health authorities declared an outbreak of Ebola disease, caused by Sudan virus, following laboratory confirmation of a patient from a village in Madudu sub-county, Mubende district, central Uganda. Mubende District is located in the Northern Part of Buganda that is bordered by Kasanda district and Kyegegwa district.
The Ministry of Health in Uganda through the National Task Force together with the team from World Health Organization in Uganda have joined technical effort and are working tirelessly to combat the spread and effect of this disease. Therefore Uganda has experience in responding to Ebola virus disease and Sudan virus disease outbreaks, and necessary action has been initiated quickly.
According to the existing tourism circuit in Uganda we would like to inform you that the affected district of Mubende is not a desired or landmarked destination for tourism in the country as there are no attractions defined for tourists in the region, therefore in the bid to be cautious about the virus there shouldn’t be any anxiety, fears or concerns about tourism in the region as the passageway through Mubende is very much avoidable with vast alternative routes in place.
Visitors and tourists to and around Uganda are urged to travel as they observe the set health guidelines in place and to continue taking all the precautions while traveling for example avoiding body contact like not shaking people’s hands and washing your hands more frequently, cleaning your body and objects that you do come in contact with. We would like to reassure you that Uganda is safe to visit. Tourists can safely enjoy the attractions across the country without restrictions. Churchill Safaris as from the past experience of the Covid-19 pandemic assures and guarantees your safety and will continue to ensure your dream safaris to Uganda come true as planned.
We therefore do understand your concerns and would like to ensure that we can be of great assistance in answering your questions in regards to your travel to East Africa, Uganda and Rwanda in particular.
Frequently asked questions about the Ebola Virus Disease
What you need to know about the Ebola Virus Disease and how it spreads
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a very rare disease that can cause illness in people. It is believed to occur naturally in specific animal populations that live in multiple sub-Saharan African countries. In the areas where Ebola Virus Disease is most common, the virus is believed to spread at low rates among certain animal populations. Occasionally people become sick with Ebola after coming into contact with infected animals, which can lead to Ebola outbreaks in people who come in contact with them or others who have Ebola Virus Disease.
Unlike a cold or the flu, the Ebola virus is not spread by tiny droplets that remain in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Ebola is spread between humans when an uninfected person has direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease or has died of the disease.
Ebola can also be spread through cleaning up of body fluids or touching the soiled clothing of an infected person
Through touching unsterilized needles or medical equipment used in the care of an infected person
It can also be caught through having routine handshakes with people suspected to have the virus infection.
Who is most at risk?
During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are:
How long does the virus take to take effect?
According to the World Health Organization the incubation period of the virus in human body ranges from 2 to 21 days. People infected with Sudan virus cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms, and they remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.
How do you know you have contracted Ebola?
There are a few noted signs and symptoms of the disease that one should beware of and these include; high-grade fever, fatigue, tonic convulsions, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, rash, blood-stained vomit and diarrhea, loss of appetite, pain while swallowing, chest pain, dry cough and bleeding in the eyes.
Research shows that the virus attacks the spleen and kidneys, where it kills cells that help the body to regulate its fluid and chemical balance and that make proteins that help the blood to clot.
What is the treatment?
Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They are frequently dehydrated and need intravenous fluids or oral rehydration with solutions that contain electrolytes. There is currently no specific treatment to cure the disease.
Some patients will recover with the appropriate medical care.
To help control further spread of the virus, people that are suspected or confirmed to have the disease should be isolated from other patients and treated by health workers using strict infection control precautions.
How can you avoid contracting Ebola during your travel?
When living in or traveling to a region where Ebola virus is potentially present, there are a number of ways to protect yourself and prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease.
You can get to know more about Ebola with these Facts and Q&A that we believe will be of assistance to your unanswered questions and if you want to get down to specific travel questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email or ask us to call you back.