Story by Twesigye Aggrey
Authorities at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital have banned caretakers as officials attempt to contain an Ebola outbreak which has killed one person in the country days after the virus resurfaced in Kampala.
Dr Deus Twesigye the acting hospital director confirmed the move on Thursday, as he dismissed reports in the media that the facility had admitted two suspected Ebola patients.
Dr Twesigye stated that to prevent overcrowding, each patient will now be allowed only one caretaker.
According to Dr Twesigye, the hospital admitted two patients last weekend including a 15-year-old Burundian boy from the Nakivale refugee camp in Isingiro who was brought in with a high fever and bloody diarrhoea and was immediately placed in isolation and a 19-year-old girl from Kiruhura district.
Twesigye narrated that despite the efforts of medical staff, the Burundian boy passed away on Monday and was later buried at Kabazaana in Nakivale refugee camp in Isingiro district under the supervision of health workers.
He however said that the test results released on Tuesday confirmed that both patients were suffering from severe enteritis, not Ebola
The 19-year-old girl has since recovered and has been discharged in good health.
