California Officials Urge Doctors to Be on Alert for Signs of Ebola

Doctors in California are being urged to be on alert for any signs of Ebola symptoms among people who have recently traveled to Uganda, the East African nation currently undergoing a significant outbreak.

Ebola cases have not been reported in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, nor Entebbe, home to the nation’s international airport, according to a recent bulletin by the California Department of Public Health.

In addition, some of the early victims were buried in large ceremonies, and the area where the outbreak began was along a main highway two hours from the Ugandan capital and leading to the Democratic Republic of Congo. There are 54 confirmed and 20 probable Ebola cases in the recent outbreak, as well as 39 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

An outbreak was declared July 4, 2022. The Ebola strain behind this outbreak is known as the Sudan species; past outbreaks of the Sudan.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. Ebola is spread through contact with bodily fluids of an infected person. It can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects or animals.

California health officials are urging doctors to ask patients about their travel history and to be on the lookout for Ebola symptoms. Anyone who has traveled to Uganda within the last 21 days and is showing Ebola symptoms should be isolated and public health authorities notified immediately.

The best way to prevent Ebola is to avoid contact with the bodily fluids of infected people or animals. Ebola can also be spread through contact with contaminated objects, so it’s important to practice good hygiene and avoid sharing utensils or other personal items.

If you have traveled to Uganda within the last 21 days and developed Ebola symptoms, seek medical help immediately and isolate yourself from other people. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel history and Ebola symptoms.

For more information, please visit the California Department of Public Health’s website.