Preventing the spread of Ebola Virus, as according to World Health Organisation (WHO), can be achieved through effective case management, infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilization. This, no doubt informs the reason for the isolation of a patient suspected in St Mary’s Hospital Lacor in the northern Gulu District.
It is reported that, in order to avoid another outbreak from her end, she has since been isolated in a ward as investigations continues to ascertain the nature of her illness. It is however unfortunate because the patient was reported to have checked in at the hospital for another complication before her case degenerated to the point of suspicion, when it was discovered that she was bleeding from openings in her body.
Medical specialist, Dr Emmanuel Ochola, an epidemiologist at the hospital disclosed that doctors detected high fever and haemorrhage symptoms and had to arrest the the situation by getting her isolated as dictated by the medical profession in times of managing crisis and outbreaks.
“The patient came for medical check-up at the Gynaecology Ward on May 31. However, her condition wasn’t good; she later began bleeding a lot from all body openings. The doctors detected high fever and haemorrhagic manifestations before she was rushed to an isolation ward,” the doctor said.
Following her isolation, there are investigations underway to confirm whatever the issue is. In addition, medical experts are under surveillance to look into containing the spread peradventure it’s a case of the deadly virus.
“We are monitoring the patient closely in isolation as we wait for the test results from UVRI; we are on high alert at the facility and have taken all the necessary precaution,” Dr Ochola announced. “We caution other health practitioners in various health facilities to be on high alert and refer suspicious cases of haemorrhagic fever immediately,” he added.
The intensity of the fear is however understandable because Uganda has records of Ebola outbreak in the past. And the very unfortunate is how the Virus claim lives without sparing lives of medical doctors.
