MoH blames Ebola surge on myths and misconception

By: Akampa Gilbert Kakurugu
Health

The ministry of health has attributed the surge of Sudan Ebola cases reported in Eight districts in the country to myths and Misconception, low risk of perception and misinformation among communities .

Sudan Ebola Virus was last confirmed in Uganda in 2012-2013 with 6 Confirmed Cases and 3 deaths and case fatality rate of 100%. On 20th September 2022, Uganda declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus disease after a case was confirmed in a village of Madudu Sub County in Mubende district, about 200Kms West of the Capital city.

The first case was a 24-year-old-male who developed a wide range of symptoms on 11th September 2022, including high grade fever,convulsions, blood-stained Vomitus and diarrhoea, loss of appetite, pain while swallowing, chest pain, dry cough and bleeding in the eyes.

Since then, Ebola virus has spread in Eight districts of Bunyangabu, Kagadi, Kampala, Kassanda, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Masaka and Wakiso.

While addressing Journalists from Kigezi Subregion yesterday 9th October,2022 during a one-day media orientation on reporting Ebola outbreak in Uganda at Bunyonyi Safaris Resort in Kabale district the Ministry of Health Senior Public Relations Officer Emmanuel Ainebyoona attributed misinformation to people who photoshop results released by ministry and manipulate them and create their own information and start sharing it on social media platforms misleading the public with false information.

He adds, the ministry is being challenged by myths and Misconception, low risk of perception among communities, misinformation and lack of trust by the public in the hunt to fight Ebola.

He asked journalists to spearhead the fight against Ebola and aim at giving well studied updates concerning Ebola to the public as others joined the mass to spread false information through social media platforms.

Uganda got first hit by Sudan Ebola Virus in 2000-2001 where 425 cases were registered with 224 deaths and fatality rate of 53 percent. In 2007-2008, another species of Budibugyo Ebola Virus was also reported with 131 registered cases and 42 deaths and 32 percent fatality rate.

Sudan Ebola Virus again got reported in the country and one case got reported, one death was registered with a case fatality rate of 100%. In 2012, the country again confirmed Sudan Ebola Virus and 11 cases were reported with 4 deaths and case fatality rate of 36%.