Ugandans are beginning to feat that the latest cases of Ebola fever may spread – so far there are 101 reported suspected case, as well as 338 other patients who are being monitored, say authorities.

There have been 22 deaths so far, as well as 11 health workers who have become ill, says Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, Minister of State for Primary-Health. Pay rises have been approved for health workers who are in contact with sick people.

The 338 people are being monitored because they were in physical contact with those who are known to have been infected. Nearly all the cases are in the Bundibugyo district, plus two in the capital, Kampala.

Panic is starting to spread among health workers, officials and health care unions. In fact, union officials are telling their members not to touch a sick patient unless they have been provided with protective clothing.

Ebola fever is thought to originate in the Ebola river, the Congo. The region of Uganda where the latest outbreak is occurring is near the Congo border, and near the Ebola River. The local press informs that the Congo has closed its border with Uganda – this is strongly denied by Congolese authorities. Reuters informs that Congolese authorities told them that the people of Congo have bee told to be extra vigilant, nothing else – no borders have been sealed.

Rwanda, which also borders with Uganda, has set up mobile clinics at strategic points just in case the illness spreads. Western Uganda borders with Kenya, where authorities say they are screening people who come over from Uganda.

Ugandan authorities are being accused in some quarters of covering the outbreak up. The outbreak started four months ago. They say it was covered up so as not to affect the meeting of the Commonwealth Summit last month – visitors included 53 heads of governments, as well as the UK’s Queen Elizabeth. Authorities say this is not the case.

In 2000 about 425 people in Uganda caught Ebola and half of them died.

What is Ebola?

It is a deadly virus that originated in Africa. Like Marburg fever, Lassa fever, and Dengue fever, it is a hemorrhagic fever.

There are four types of Ebola

— Ebola Zaire (known to cause serious illness)
— Ebola Cote d’ivoire (known to cause serious illness)
— Ebola Sudan (known to cause serious illness)
— Ebola Reston (does not cause serious illness)

Ebola is contagious, and is passed on through bodily fluids, such as blood and secretions. If you touch other infected primates you run the risk of becoming infected yourself. You are also at risk if you touch an infected corpse, infected patients – in both cases if you do not exercise proper caution. Some experts say the disease may be transmitted through airborne particles, but there is not proof of this.

When there is an outbreak health care workers/professionals are at particular risk of infection. Unfortunately, Ebola breaks out in nations where crucial protective garments and sterilization procedures are scarce, making doctors and nurses very vulnerable to infection.

Myth – It does not kill in hours

Ebola does not kill within hours of infection. The incubation period can be up to a couple of weeks.

Symptoms

— Fever, which rises rapidly
— Extremely severe muscle pain
— Severe weakness, such that the patient is completely debilitated
Diarrhea, vomiting, internal bleeding, external bleeding (less common)

The media, and film industry, have led us to believe that symptoms develop quickly and the patient looks horrific. In fact, the symptoms develop gradually and often there is no external exhibition of the virus. Less than half of all infected people develop hemorrhaging. However, when hemorrhaging does occur, the patient’s mouth, nose, genitals, and parts of the skin can bleed.

Written by – Christian Nordqvist