Two health workers of Kapchorwa Hospital who treated a woman killed by the Marburg disease last week, have also developed Marburg-like symptoms, fuelling speculation they could have contracted the highly contagious Viral Hemorrhagic Fever.
Last week, the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng confirmed the outbreak of Marburg in the eastern districts of Kween and Kapchorwa following laboratory tests conducted on October 19 by Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI), which confirmed that a 50-year old female from Chemuron village, Moyok Parish in Kwen district had died of Marburg.
And, speaking to journalists at the Uganda Media Centre, the minister said the blood samples of the health workers had been sent to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for testing and that the two are isolated and being monitored.
“Despite developing Marburg symptoms, cumulative cases stands at two, one confirmed and one probable case,” Dr. Aceng said, adding that a number of likely victims are being monitored by specialist teams on the ground in Kween and Kapchorwa.
Meanwhile, Dr. Aceng says the ministry has started a field epidemiology training program to train epidemiologists serving at capacity ratio of one for every 200, 000 people.
“Uganda has built capacity to manage outbreaks though there is need to consolidate and strengthen systems for sustainability,” Dr. Acen was quoted as saying.
