Kagera RC calls for heightened Ebola vigilance

BUKOBA: KAGERA Regional Commissioner Colonel Yahaya Ramadhan Kido has called for concerted efforts among citizens to strengthen precautionary measures against Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), following reported outbreaks in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda.

Col Kido also urged religious leaders to educate the public on preparedness measures, ways to avoid contracting the disease and the importance of seeking early medical attention at nearby health facilities. He made the remarks yesterday during Eid Al Adha celebrations held at Kaitaba Stadium in Bukoba Municipality.

“Authorities have implemented strict cross-border surveillance, thermal screening at entry points, including Mutukula in Missenyi District and Kabanga in Ngara District and equipped isolation centres across districts to ensure rapid detection and response,” Col Kido said.

According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census, Kagera Region has a population of 2.9 million people living in 662 villages.

The region, which borders Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, as well as Kenya through Lake Victoria, has previously experienced outbreaks of contagious diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, Covid-19 and cholera, resulting in loss of lives.

Kagera has several border entry points, including Murusagamba, Kabanga and Rusumo in Ngara District; Murongo and Kaisho in Karagwe District; Mutukula, Kanyigo, Kashenye and Kyaka in Missenyi District and Bugabo and Rubafu in Bukoba District.

Col Kido stressed that community awareness remains critical, noting that village monitoring teams and community health workers are actively disseminating information on Ebola symptoms, hygiene practices and the importance of reporting suspected cases promptly.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared Ebola a public health emergency of international concern.

As of May 16, this year, the DRC had reported 906 suspected Ebola cases, including 105 confirmed cases, 223 suspected deaths and 10 confirmed deaths.

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Uganda has reported seven cases and one confirmed death.

Ebola Virus Disease is a rare but severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever caused by orthoebolaviruses. The disease is primarily transmitted through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals or infected wild animals such as fruit bats. Symptoms range from flu-like illness to organ failure and internal bleeding.