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Uganda: Museveni Orders Probe Into Ebola Origin
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The Monitor (Kampala)
13 December 2007
Posted to the web 12 December 2007
Tabu Butagira, Hussein Bogere & Joseph Mugisha
Bundibugyo/Kampala
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has ordered an immediate investigation into the original source of the Ebola epidemic that has so far killed 32 people, mainly in Bundibugyo District.
The directive, which was disclosed by Mr Samuel Kazinga, the Bundibugyo RDCon Tuesday, follows conflicting reports that the first persons to contract the haemorrhagic fever in Kikyo ate a monkey and not a dead goat as had earlier been reported by medical investigators.
"Following the directive from His Excellency (President Museveni), I have now instituted a four-man committee of intelligence and medical personnel to find out where the epidemic came from," Mr Kazinga told Health Minister Stephen Malinga, who was on a fact-finding visit to the district.
He said the committee is headed by the District Internal Security Officer, Mr Moses Tumwebaze and comprises Dr Nicholas Sseko, Dr Pierre and Mr Moses Kafeero, the district police commander.
The President last week warned Ugandans against consuming monkey meat and shaking hands while greeting.
Epidemiological experts are still baffled by the actual host of the virus that causes Ebola but scientific inquiries since 1976, the first time the lethal subtypes of Ebola Sudan and Ebola Zaire were discovered, have concluded that monkeys could be agents that transmit the virulent disease.
The cell phone of the president's press secretary, Tamale Mirundi was switched off at the time Daily Monitor tried to reach him.
In an update issued yesterday, the Director General of Health Services, Dr Sam Zaramba, said the total Ebola infections registered at both Kikyo health centre IV and Bundibugyo government hospital had risen to 120.
"Twelve people are currently admitted in Kikyo Health Centre and 16 in Bundibugyo Hospital (and) one patient who was admitted in Bundibugyo Hospital, has been discharged in good condition," Dr Zaramba said.
But Congolese authorities momentarily closed their border post at Mpondwe on Tuesday, leaving many Ugandan traders headed to Lhubirihi market inside the DRC stranded.
But some security officials in Kasese District said some Ugandan traders who offered a Sh5, 000 bribe to Congolese soldiers were allowed into Congo.
The border customs point, which was shut over fears that Ugandans from the Ebola-affected districts could spread it into the DR Congo was, however later re-opened following a high level crisis meeting between government officials on both sides.
In Mbarara District, officials of Bishop Stuart University have banned about 50 undergraduate students drawn from Kasesese, Kabarole, Kamwenge and Bundibugyo districts from resuming their December 2007-January 2008 Recess studies over fears that they could infect the whole school community of over 2,000 students.
"We [University Management] looked at the present situation of Ebola in that region and looked at the number of students at the campus.
"Those students (from the four districts) can carry Ebola, infect these students and create a very big problem, we have therefore stopped them from coming," the University Academic registrar, Mr Alfred Bangirana said yesterday.
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He said the affected students would be compensated in due course when the epidemic finally subsides.
Even when government officials are sounding optimistic that the deadly infection is steadly being brought under control, the Ministry of Health nevertheless warns the public "to avoid unnecessary movements and gatherings especially in the districts around Bundibugyo (such as) Kabarole, Kasese, Hoima, Kibaale, Kyenjojo, Kamwenge, Ibanda, Bushenyi and Mbarara.
Additional reporting by ALFRED TUMUSHABE & MICHAEL KARUGABA
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