The Ministry of Health has officially declared Uganda free from the Marburg Viral Disease (MVD). This follows a 42-day MVD surveillance period for contacts of the last confirmed case.
In October 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 Kween district had died of the dreaded viral disease.
But addressing journalists today at the Uganda Media Centre, the State Minister for Health for General Duties Sarah Opendi said after the elapse of the MVD circle, results indicated that the virus had been contained.
According to Minister Opendi, after the reported death, the health ministry deployed a rapid response team of highly trained Epidemiologists and infection control experts to Kween and Kapchorwa district who have so far spent Shs3.5 billion since the reported Marburg outbreak.
She disclosed that 311 people were closely monitored, 81 in Kween and 230 in Kapchorwa, following their contact with the confirmed victim.
According to results from UVRI, of those under surveillance 18 developed symptoms similar to MVD but they tested negative, the Minister said.
‘’We are extremely grateful to all our partners who have supported us in response to the Marburg Outbreak in Eastern Uganda’’ Ms. Opendi said.
