EBOLA IN UGANDA
EBOLA IN UGANDA
GENEVA, Switzerland, August 2, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Olimpia de la Rosa, MSF’s emergency coordinator :
“If we can limit the spread of the Ebola virus, we can get the epidemic under control”
Kigadi, 1 August 2012: Outbreaks of Ebola are rare, but for Dr. Olimpia de la Rosa, MSF’s emergency coordinator, dealing with the disease is nothing new. The last time Ebola hit Uganda, in 2007, she supported an MSF team fighting the outbreak. Five years later, MSF’s emergency response is again in full swing as teams help to combat the spread of the deadly virus.
What is the current situation in Uganda and how many people are affected?
So far 36 cases of Ebola have been reported and the disease has claimed 14 lives. Laboratory tests have officially confirmed that the virus is Ebola.
Where is the epicentre of the outbreak?
Eighteen people with Ebola have been admitted to the hospital in Kigadi, in western Uganda’s Kibaale district. On 31 July, an MSF team launched an emergency response in Kigadi to limit the spread of the virus.
Are people in Kigadi scared that Ebola will spread?
The community in Kigadi is certainly concerned, but the situation in the area is calm and the hospital remains open. If we can limit the spread of the Ebola virus, we can get the epidemic under control.
What do you think of the Ugandan President’s advice for people to limit direct contact with others?
It is true that limiting direct contact with others is a good way to protect yourself. But people without symptoms are not contagious, so people should not be scared to go out in the streets. Avoiding contact with other people’s bodily fluids is the best way to limit an Ebola outbreak,
Category: Africa News
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