An official at the Ministry of Health has cautioned Rwandans travelling to Uganda to be vigilant and avoid close proximity to persons affected with the deadly epidemic. The counsel was given by Dr Thierry Nyatanyi, the head of Disease Prevention and Control of Epidemic Infectious diseases at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC).Nyatanyi said that three healthcare providers from each district hospital are presently undergoing training in handling and care for Ebola patients, following the outbreak of the disease that has claimed close to 20 lives in the neighbouring country.“We are carrying out various precautionary measures to prevent this epidemic from affecting Rwanda. Alerts have also been issued out to all health centres on how to detect and handle cases,” he said.As part of other safety measures, essential kits and medical supplies have been assembled and dispatched to health facilities in the border districts, though no screening or travel restrictions have been implemented for people travelling to and from Uganda because, as Nyatanyi explained, the incubation period for Ebola is between two and 21 days, so it would be difficult to detect if someone is infected.He noted that the emphasis is to keep the public educated on Ebola preventive measures.Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a highly contagious disease transmitted from one person to another. It is characterised by fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pains and bleeding from all orifices.In Uganda, two more deaths were recorded at Kagadi Hospital in Kibaale District (Western Uganda) which brings the number to 16.According to a statement from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, 16 patients are under scrutiny as results of their tests are not yet out although two of them have been confirmed to have Ebola.Another 14 samples were taken for study early this week bringing the total of samples to 30 according to the statement.There are five types of Ebola, namely, Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Côte d’Ivoire, Ebola Bundibugyo and Ebola Reston.In Kibaale, the type confirmed is Ebola Sudan, which is less deadly than Ebola Zaire.
