Ebola: Here Are the Key Takeaways from the Vice President's Address

Vice President Jessica Alupo on Sunday delivered a national address on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni. Here are the key takeaways.

Vice President Jessica Alupo on Sunday delivered a national address on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni. Here are the key takeaways.

President Museveni on October 15 restricted movement into and out of Kassanda and Mubende districts.

These restrictions were aimed at limiting the spread of Ebola virus disease to densely populated areas in Kampala and Wakiso.

The first 21 days elapsed on Friday, November 4. On November 5, Museveni directed an additional 21 days to extend the restrictions on movements into and out of Kassanda and Mubende districts which will end on November 26. 

President Museveni said he was glad to note that these measures have worked, and importation of the virus to Kampala has been averted.

Since the start of this outbreak in September 2022, the virus had attempted to move from Mubende, and Kassanda, to Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Kyegegwa, Wakiso, Kampala City, Masaka and Jinja. 

The President said he was glad that Uganda has been able to stop further spread in the districts of Masaka, Kyegegwa, Bunyangabu and Kagadi. 

The Ministry of Health responded with swiftness to Jinja, and so far over 300 contacts have been listed and put under institutional quarantine. 

It is now 14 days since the last case in Jinja district, and Uganda has have not had any other cases coming from these areas, but those in quarantine must complete the 21 days for us to be sure, they are free of Ebola.

"It may be too early to celebrate any successes, but overall, I have been briefed that the picture is good," the president said.

"As I indicated to you earlier, Ebola is a contact disease, unlike coronavirus which is airborne, hence much easier to control, despite its devastating nature."

To date, 141 people have been confirmed positive for Ebola virus disease, 79 have recovered while 55 have succumbed to the disease.

A total of six confirmed cases are still admitted and receiving treatment at both the Mubende (5) and Entebbe (1) Ebola Treatment Units.

The current active admissions are from Kassanda, Mubende and Kampala districts. 

Kampala has registered the highest recovery rate of 83% (15/18 cases) while Mubende and Kassanda have the lowest recovery rates at 45% (29/64 cases) and 42% (20/48) respectively.

The good outcomes in Kampala were a result of the government’s quick decision to quarantine contacts and get them early to the hospital when they develop symptoms. 

The opportunity for immediate quarantine of contacts was lost for Mubende and Kasanda, as the first probable case died on September 6 and we got to know about Ebola in Mubende on September 20, by this time the disease had spread to many other sub-counties. 

The country has been responding to this outbreak for nearly two months and one week now (68 days), and Uganda has registered successes. 

Three districts have been retired from the follow-up list having completed more than 42 days since the last case of Ebola was reported coupled with no further spread. 

These are Kagadi, Bunyangabu, Kyegeggwa. Six districts (Mubende, Kassanda, Kampala, Wakiso, Jinja and Masaka) are still under follow-up.

Additionally, there are some districts with imported cases, plus or minus secondary transmissions such as Wakiso, Masaka, Jinja and Kampala. 

These districts continue to register progress in control of the outbreak as observed by the number of days since the last confirmed case was registered. 

For example, Masaka has spent 24 days so far, with no secondary transmission, a success just like what we saw in Kagadi and Bunyangabo districts. Wakiso, Jinja and Kampala districts have spent (17), (11) and (9) days respectively since the last confirmed case.

Although Kampala and Wakiso are largely silent, Uganda remains very cautious and alert with heightened surveillance. 

The epicenters of Mubende and Kassanda have also made good progress and a very commendable job in controlling the disease and its spread.

However, recently one case was identified in Mubende on November 13 after the district had gone 15 days without reporting a case.

This is a 23-year-old female medical student from the Eastern Division of Mubende municipality with a history of contact with an earlier case.

It is now 13 days since this latest case was reported in Mubende therefore more work still needs to be done for the district to be completely free of Ebola. 

Similarly, Kassanda district has shown improved progress in the response since my last speech. 
It is now almost two weeks (15) days since the district reported a confirmed case of Ebola. 

The government is cognizant of the challenges of a weak health system, myths, misinformation, and belief in witchcraft coupled with a single incident of exhumation of a dead body that resulted in a flare-up of cases.

Therefore, to further sustain the gains in control of Ebola that we have made, and to protect the rest of the country from continued exposure, all the directives issued on October 15, followed by those 
communicated on November 5 by the Minister of Health will be extended for another 21 days. 

Why another 21 days? This is the incubation period for Ebola. The districts of Mubende and Kassanda have only gone 13 and 15 days respectively without a case and there are 23 people in quarantine in Mubende while in Kassanda there are 102 contacts under follow-up.

This situation is still fragile. 

Without completing 21 days as we saw with Mubende, a case can pop up anywhere. It is therefore important that we complete the entire cycle which will bring us to December 17.