Ebola Case Confirmed in Fort Portal Amid Rising Fears

A case of Ebola has been confirmed in Fort Portal City, heightening concerns among residents. The patient, a resident of Kyegegwa, is among six suspected cases admitted to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital.

Authorities say the individual contracted the virus while attending a funeral in Ntoroko for an Ebola victim.

Fort Portal Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Stanley Bayole, who also chairs the Ebola Task Force, confirmed the positive case.

“The patient had attended a funeral in Ntoroko where an Ebola-related death had been reported,” he said.

Last week, health officials at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital identified six suspected cases, all linked to contact with an Ebola victim in Ntoroko.

Samples were collected and sent for testing, according to Acting Hospital Director Bahizi Archbald Newton Sebahire and Fort Portal City Health Officer Solomon Assimwe.

The confirmation of one positive case has fueled anxiety in the city, with residents closely following updates on the remaining test results.

Health authorities have moved swiftly to implement containment measures.

Fort Portal City Health Officer Solomon Assimwe said precautionary steps include suspending school visitations, enforcing mandatory handwashing at schools and public places, and intensifying sensitisation efforts.

“We are doing everything possible to prevent further spread,” he said.

Despite the measures, some community members have raised concerns about the challenges of detecting the infected and the difficulty of staying home when their daily needs require them to work.

Teams from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation are on the ground, working to contain the outbreak and prevent further infections.