The government task force helping to fight Marburg spread in Kween District, eastern Uganda has intensified the response to the haemorrhagic fever.
In the latest update on the ongoing Marburg outbreak, the ministry of health in a Tuesday press statement said a multi-sectoral team of experts has been dispatched to the affected districts to enhance the response.
“A burial team to ensure the safe burial of any new cases has also been instituted and trained in proper burial practice to prevent the potential further spread of the outbreak. Psychosocial support has been intensified to counsel individuals who have come into contact with the virus. The psychosocial team is offering counselling to family members of discharged patients as well as community members where discharged patients reside,” read part of the statement issued by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer Ms Vivian Serwanjja.
Information provided by Ms Serwanjja also indicated that the epidemiological team is also mapping health facilities to determine which staff require training in surveillance.
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“Epidemiologists have been sent to conduct active case finding and tracing of people who have come into contact with confirmed cases across the Sebei Sub-region. The epidemiological team is also mapping health facilities to determine which staff require training in surveillance, including following up and verifying possible case alerts, monitoring the movement of confirmed cases and mapping all places where cases and contacts with cases have been. Cross-border engagements with the Kenyan authorities are also taking place to boost cross-border surveillance efforts.”
The multi-sectoral team also includes lab technologists who are collecting samples from suspected cases and ensuring safe and timely transportation of samples to the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe.
Repairs have also been made on the line for water to Kaproron in Kween district, while works are under way to connect Kaproron Health Center IV to the main grid. Sensitization on the importance of handwashing is also taking place.
The team of experts will remain on ground in Kapchorwa, Kween and the neighboring districts until the outbreak is fully contained.
