Uganda Ebola Scare: Country on high alert after two suspected cases

World
Europe

02:12

Uganda remains on high alert after the death of two people with symptoms of Ebola. The area borders the DR Congo where the virus has killed hundreds over the past ten months. The United Nations warns the number of new cases is spiking. CGTN's Michael Baleke has that report.

MICHAEL BALEKE KAMPALA, UGANDA "Uganda's Ministry of Health says its teams have conducted dignified burials for the two deceased. The Health Ministry says the cases are being treated as mere suspects as they await test results from the government laboratory."

EMMANUEL AINEBYOONA, SENIOR P.R. OFFICER UGANDAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH "The district health teams have collected post mortem samples for further analysis at Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe and we await the results. But for now, it's suspected viral haemorrhagic fever."

This is the second scare the district is having in a space of two weeks. In the neighbouring DR Congo, the Ebola epidemic has claimed more than 1200 lives and the risk of spread to other provinces as well as neighbouring countries like Uganda remains very high.

EMMANUEL AINEBYOONA, SENIOR P.R. OFFICER UGANDAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH "Uganda has been in the preparedness mode to ensure that we do not have the Ebola virus imported into our border and as such we have had a number of surveillance and vigilance systems, for instance, we have screening facilities at all our points of entry."

The United Nations claims the ongoing insecurity and community mistrust in the Eastern DR Congo is hindering efforts by the UN World Health Organization and Government Health teams to detect sick people and ensure access to treatment and vaccination. This is responsible for the recent surge in new Ebola cases. Michael Baleke CGTN, Kampala, Uganda.