Thursday 25 October 2012

Marburg Outbreak: All Kabale health centers to screen. Dr. Patrick Tusiime (left) Kabale District Director of Health Services, said on Tuesday that they have decided to extend the screening to all the health centers in the district since many people are believed to have had contact with victims. Health workers in Kabale District have launched Marburg screening at all health centers in the district as more cases of the deadly virus rise. This comes as number of people receiving treatment at an isolation unit at Rushoroza Health Center increased from two to five, while those under monitoring have increased to 120 from 36. Dr. Patrick Tusiime, Kabale District Director of Health Services, said on Tuesday that they have decided to extend the screening to all the health centers in the district since many people are believed to have had contact with victims. He said the screening would be done on a daily basis to help them intervene quickly. Kabale Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Mathew Elayo says the move by authorities to keep patients away from their relatives is aimed at checking the spread of the disease and asked locals to cooperate and wipe out the disease. Marburg is a highly contagious disease that kills in a short time but can easily be prevented. The disease which is caused by a virus spreads through direct contact with wounds, body fluids like blood, saliva, stool and urine of an infected person.