State minister for health Sarah Opendi has announced that the Marburg virus disease which was confirmed by laboratory tests in October this year has been contained.
Opendi made the announcement in Kampala this morning, declaring the country, officially free from the Marburg viral disease.
“Today marks 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case which occurred on 26th October 2017, indicating that MVD outbreak which occurred in Kween and Kapchorwa districts has been contained” Opendi said.
She said the declaration comes after completion of 42 days of the post-MVD surveillance countdown period for the contacts of the last confirmed case, as per world health organization WHO requirement for declaring an end to an outbreak of any viral Hemorrhagic fever.
The minister cautioned members of the public to reduce the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission by avoiding contact with wild bats, including visits to caves inhabited by bats. She further urged the public to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community by avoiding direct or close contact with suspected patients, should any suspected case occur.
