Busia County Director of Public Health Joseph Oprong has dispelled rumours making rounds about a confirmed Ebola virus case in the county.
Speaking to the press in his office on Thursday, Oprong admitted that a suspected case was reported at Busia County Referral Hospital last Wednesday, but upon testing, the results showed negative to the disease.
“Since the outbreak of Ebola, as a county, we have so far tested a total of 12 suspected cases, and all of them have tested negative,” he said, adding that yesterday’s case also reported negative.
He added that a rapid response team quickly responded to the suspected case and isolated the patient at the Busia County Referral facility yesterday.
“They took the sample, and within six hours we got the result, which turned out to be negative,” he said, adding that there was no cause for alarm.
Oprong urged the local residents to remain calm, adding that the health sector had placed enough measures in place to screen all travellers from Uganda and Congo.
“We are also using community health promoters to sensitise residents at the community level,’ he said, adding they should ensure handwashing using running water and avoid handshakes at all costs.
By Salome Alwanda
