Francis Mugerwa
5 December 2007
AUTHORITIES in Kibaale District have barred residents from going to neighbouring Ebola infested Bundibugyo District.
This was disclosed by the Kibaale Resident District Commissioner, Hajji Ali Mutawe, on Tuesday.
"We have stopped residents from traveling to Bundibugyo where they may contract Ebola," Mr Mutawe said.
He said the directive is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting locals from being infected by the viral disease.
Ebola is a highly contagious disease that has so far cliamed the lives of over 18 people though other independent sources estimate the number to be higher.
Kibaale residents regularly travel to the affected area mainly for business. The two districts border Lake Albert.
The fishermen on the landing sites of Kitebere, Kabukanga, Ndaiga move across the lake and sell their fish in Bundibugyo District.
Ntoroko l anding site which is located in Bundibugyo, is less than 20 kilometres from Kitebere village.
The District Director for Health Services, Dr Dan Kyamanywa, said medics worry that if residents move uncontrolled to and from the affected district, there are chances of contracting the epidemic that could wreck havoc in the district.
"For preventative purposes, we do not want any boat to move from our landing site to Bundibugyo. We have also stopped boats coming from Bundibugyo ," Dr Kyamanywa said.
Hajji Mutawe said the directive is effective till the situation normalises. "We shall lift the ban if the disease is controlled," Mr Mutawe said.
Ebola is transmitted by a virus. It causes hemorrhagic fever that is often fatal to humans.
There is no carrier state because the natural reservoir of the virus is unknown and the manner in which the v irus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined.
However, researchers say the first people become infected through contact with an infected person.
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