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Following: http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Ebola_strikes_again.shtml

 

Does anybody know of any International Travel Advisory to UG ?

As well as wishing ours well I wonder how this might impact people’s  holiday travel plans?

 

Apparently the outbreak is in Bundibugyo but might spread any time coz of fleeing travellers. I guess prayers are in order.

I imagine that this wasn't announced because of CHOGM and all.Now that we are done,lets hope this issue can be dealt with. A quarantine will probably be imposed.

phew! this will be bad news indeed MW! pray it's not true and if so that it is contained quickly and easily

Its being reported that doctors have abandoned their stations in the Bundibugyo because of this crisis. I can only imagine the pain and confusion those afflicted are going through right now. 

MW - Some tour operators here in the UK, especially amongst those affiliated to the voluntary sector whereupon skilled/professionals are involved in projects in certain parts of Uganda, the message is to hold off going to suspected regions unless their work is directly in relation to dealing with the outbreak.  Its often the case that our embassies/high commissions are at times slow on communicating information to us on most issues.  I tend to take to the international bodies when seeking information pertaining to clarity. 

However Medicines San Frontiers which dealt with a similar outbreak in neighbouring Congo is on the case to not only advice local government health officials, but also the public. Of interest, I just read an article in New Vision http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/600344 which claims to have had it's journalists in the region very recently - for their sakes as well as those they are moving amongst, I sincerely hope they adhered to the rules of cross-infection contamination etc...  Lack of adequate control measures alongside appropriate information for health care stafff is another major route for cross infection if failure to comply with guidelines for this dealing with highly contagious airbourne virus.

For instance, the following protocal appears to not have been in place these journalist visited:-

• Changing room Area next to isolation ward where health workers dress in protective clothing, disinfect hands and gloves, and dispose of soiled and contaminated protective clothing.
• Cleaning Removal of any soiling or other material on equipment or surfaces before disinfection or sterilization.
• Contamination Presence of infectious agent in blood and other body fluids, on body surfaces and medical equipment, clothing and supplies. Contact with contaminated body fluids or items is a risk for disease transmission.
• Disinfection Elimination of most micro-organisms from a surface, making it safe for reuse. Sterilization. Means eliminating all micro-organisms.
• Health care worker Any person trained to provide patient care (medical, nursing, paramedical, emergency room nurses, community health workers).
• Health facility Any hospital, health centre or clinic with inpatient facilities. Also any facility providing emergency or first-service care.
• Health facility staff All patient care, laboratory, cleaning, disposal, reception, and administrative staff who are likely to have contact with suspected VHF cases, VHF infectious body fluids, and infectious waste.
• Isolation area/ward The area in the health facility used for housing suspected VHF patients. It includes the patient's room or area, isolated latrine or toilet, family entrance, and changing room.
• Protective clothing Masks, gloves, gowns, eyeglasses, caps, aprons, and boots. Provides protection against splashes or spills of infectious material when examining suspected VHF cases or handling infectious waste and laundry.
• Sharps container Puncture-resistant container for collecting used needles and syringes.
• Standard Precautions Practices for limiting or preventing disease transmission in the health care setting.
• Sterilization Elimination of all micro-organisms (viral, bacteria, and fungal) through heat, using an autoclave or steam sterilizer, or other appropriate methods.
• VHF Coordinator Designated health officer who coordinates infection control and outbreak response, and provides liaison with the community and other agencies involved in outbreak control.
• VHF Isolation Precautions
• Barrier nursing and other infection control practices for preventing contact between VHF infectious body fluids and non-infected persons.

Ps. VHF = viral haemorrhagic fevers

With 276b spent, now Ugandans are scared, Four epidemics Ebola, meningitis, bubonic plague and yellow hit Uganda.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Four_epidemics_hit_Uganda.shtml

[:'(]

 

 

 

AFTER THE HEAVY RAINS + THE FLOODS = OUTBREAK OF DESEASES

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peregrine:

With 276b spent, now Ugandans are scared, Four epidemics Ebola, meningitis, bubonic plague and yellow hit Uganda.http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Four_epidemics_hit_Uganda.shtml

[:'(]

 

Containment of the spread of these endemics ought to be a crucial act.  Whilst it may be the case that some greedy persons have misused billions in the run-up to previous events such as CHOGM, its best that we unite and fight these deadly viruses which will go on to affect all of us be it directly or indirectly. 

Declaring these areas as national disaster areas to obtain maximum international assistance might be one way of addressing some of the issues concerned.  All that can be done should be done by our government to address this immediately. Kenya has already put into action its strategy even when the country is in the middle of elections which is by no means plain sailing!

Of interest, it is reported that the ebola strand virus has mutatated and is not the same as the one originally afflicting those in earlier hts - this is being determined from the progress of the virus effects once it's infected persons.
 

Indeed. Apparently the fact it mutated played a factor in the delayed analysis. Lets pray the government will unleash billions the way it did when we were chewing gum.

In other news,people are nolonger shaking hands or greeting with hugs because of this! Due to the nature of transmission, close contact is being kept to a minimum and this spells bad for those planning on concerts and weddings. Lets pray a solution is found soon.Ugandans are resilient people and shall come through this as well 

 

The following discussion forum is watching the ebola outbreak pretty closely:   Avian Flu Talk.com

The forum obviously follows the bird flu as well lol.

 

 

From CDC @  http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentEbolaUganda.aspx

Outbreak Notice
Updated: Ebola Outbreak in the District of Bundibugyo, Uganda

This information is current as of today, December 11, 2007 at 11:54

 

Updated: December 10, 2007

 

The U.S. CDC and the Ministry of Health of Uganda have reported an Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak in the Bundibugyo district located in the Western part of the country. The outbreak may have begun as early as August 2007. As of December 5, ninety-three people have become ill; evidence of Ebola virus infection has been confirmed in nine people, and twenty-two people have died. Genetic analysis of samples from case-patients indicated that this is a new virus strain distinct from the four known strains of Ebola virus. However, further studies will be needed before this can be verified.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a rare, serious viral disease which develops suddenly, with common symptoms of fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness. Diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain start after the first symptoms. A skin rash may develop. By the third or fourth day of illness some people with Ebola hemorrhagic fever may develop internal and external bleeding, shock and organ failure.

Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood or other body fluids (e.g., saliva, urine) of infected persons or objects that have been contaminated with infected body fluids. People who have close contact with a nonhuman primate infected with the virus are also at risk.

Recommendations for U.S. Travelers

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that there is no need for any travel restrictions to Uganda. Generally, the risk of contracting Ebola virus is low for travelers. CDC recommends that anyone traveling to Uganda take the following steps to prevent Ebola virus infection:

• Avoid contact with Ebola patients and their body fluids.
• Avoid touching used needles or other medical waste.
• Avoid contact with wild animals and bushmeat, including primates.

The implied possibility of a yet much earlier August beginning is very disturbing!

Ironically CHOGM and the Queen, the reasons for this perceived  “silence”  were the very reasons for the increased  population mobility and  epidemic!  Containment may be too late.

 

Curious, what’s the incubation period of this new strand?  

 

MW Thanks for this update which is so timely especially as many in the diaspora are planning to return to spend time with their loved ones etc...in Ug.  As for containment, one can only live and hope albeit there is some hope with today's news in Ug when they stated that the virus appears not to have spread out of the region intially first identified http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/601583 - Given the stage at which studies are still underway to look at this new strain, I'd go with the existing incubation period for the original strand which is 21 days.

Sugarbabes:

MW Thanks for this update which is so timely especially as many in the diaspora are planning to return to spend time with their loved ones etc...in Ug.  As for containment, one can only live and hope albeit there is some hope with today's news in Ug when they stated that the virus appears not to have spread out of the region intially first identified http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/601583 - Given the stage at which studies are still underway to look at this new strain, I'd go with the existing incubation period for the original strand which is 21 days.

 

If the Incubation period takes 21 days that means Ebola was in ug, well b4 CHOGM, there's alot of politics in doing things at government level, the ministers can deny but the truth still stands.

Politicians are trained to stay very far from the truth. It's believed the guys munched on monkey meat and they conracted Ebola!

 All these conspiracy theories cause me to start wondering what the post-mortem for Mayombo's death turned up? Peregrine - was that cooked or raw monkey meat and if cooked, was it rare or well done?