May 22, 2013 | Last updated 9 hours ago
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Breaking: 2 Suspected Ebola Patients Admitted In Rukungiri

Fear has gripped Rukungiri district, South Western Uganda, after two suspected Ebola patients were admitted at Kisizi Hospital on Wednesday.

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Ebola virus
Ebola virus

One of the patients is said to have been in Kibaale district three week backs and later on decided to return to his home in Rukungiri whereupon he fell sick and developed Ebola-like symptoms.

Sources at the hospital say that the suspected cases have been isolated from the rest of the patients and their samples sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe for tests.

Sister Moreen Tumwebaze, the nurse in charge of the isolation section, told our reporter on phone from Rukungiri that they are closely monitoring the two patients.

She said the relatives of the patients had been prohibited from accessing them as part of the containment measures.

Tumwebaze said the patients are receiving specialized care from the hospital although she admitted the hospital does have enough protective gear in case they have to treat more patients.

She, however, urged the people of Rukungiri to remain calm, saying the disease will be handled with extra care and asked them to follow the necessary precautions.

Dr. Elisha Rutahirwa, the Rukungiri district director of health services, confirmed the admission of these two patients.

He could only divulge that the first patient is aged 16 and had spent a considerable time in Kibaale district before returning to his home district.

He stressed that the two patients are under observation and nor confirmed Ebola virus patients.

He did sound a note of caution to residents urging them to be careful in their travel to affected areas to avoid contracting the disease.

The Ministry of Health claims the epdemic, which last month killed over 17 people in Kibaale district, is under control.

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