President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out on the current Ebola situation in the country saying the virus can easily be fought and managed unlike the coronavirus.
Museveni made the remarks while addressing the country on issues of national importance including the Ebola outbreak. He said the virus is aggressive but it doesn’t spread easily like the Covid19.
“The good thing is that Ebola is not as infectious as Covid19 which is air-borne. For Ebola even when fluids from the infected person get on your skin, you will not be infected as long as you have no cuts,” Museveni said.
“Corona was dangerous because you would get it through breathing. Ebola doesn’t spread through the air. It spreads through contact,” he implored individuals to abide to the safety guidelines in place to be in position to contain it’s spread.
“Us who are used of fighting wars, when we heard the characteristics of Ebola, we decided to fight differently. It’s not necessary to have lockdowns, close markets and schools or stop worshippers from congregating etc,” he added.
Museveni however, stressed the virus is very deadly to those who contract it. He said in previous outbreaks, out of 100 people who got it, 53 succumbed to it.
In particular, he cited Ugandan is very unfortunate because the outbreak in the country is for the Ebola Sudan strain because there is yet no approved vaccine for it.H
He said a number of vaccine trials are still ongoing with no confirmation on one.
“The Ebola Sudan strain is one of the six strains of Ebola. He said since it was first reported, there have been six outbreaks of this strain including two in Sudan and four in Uganda,” the president added saying the virus can however be managed.
“The Ebola virus doesn’t die immediately. It stays on dry surfaces for five days and 14 days on wet surfaces. Don’t touch the soft parts (eyes, mouth and nose) of your body unless you have washed your hands properly. My left hand is dedicated to myself. The other one, I surrendered it to the republic 63 years ago.”