The Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Ngamije has reminded Rwandans to avoid unnecessary travels to Uganda due to Ebola virus which has been confirmed in different parts of the country.

Figures released by Ugandan authorities on Sunday indicate that 34 people have been suspected of testing positive for Ebola virus. Of them 16 cases have been confirmed while 21 people have died after the country confirmed the first Ebola case one week ago.

The Ministry of Health has reassured Rwandans that the epidemic has not yet reached the country noting that travelers from Uganda are being isolated at designated sites where they are released within 21 days after undergoing medical checkups and testing negative.

Minister Ngamije has requested Rwandans to avoid unnecessary travels to areas affected by the Ebola outbreak in Uganda.

“We call upon residents in the districts neighbouring with Uganda to avoid unnecessary travels to the country, especially during this time when the virus is reported there. People can cancel their travels awaiting the situation to normalize,” he said.

Dr. Ngamije has also advised those traveling from Uganda against crossing through porous borders lest it affects the population in case they conceal details about their travel yet got in contact with people infected with Ebola.

“We request people staying there to remain cautious, while those coming back have to alert health and security officials at the border to record genuine details of his/her journey. It is worthless to conceal information,” he noted.

Minister Ngamije has urged the general public to gather information about neighbours and visitors coming to their villages to contain the spread of Ebola virus because it is deadly.

“We have not yet confirmed the virus in the country. We will continue to scale up efforts to contain the epidemic and have necessary equipment to conduct tests for Ebola. We remain standby to respond swiftly,” he said.

Ebola symptoms includes fever, headache, joint pain, soar throat, fatigue, diarrhea, regular vomiting several times, stomachache and bleeding through different body parts.

The general public is also advised to avoid contacts with blood, body fluids, items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids ; avoid contact with the body of an Ebola victim or dead wild animal or eating its meat ; always wash hands with soap and clean water and seek medical care whenever they do not feel well.

AE News