Boda Rider Dies of Suspected Ebola after Evading Contact Tracing Team

A boda rider in his mid-30s, who fled from medical teams tracking Ebola contacts in Mafubira Zone A and B, in Jinja City Northern Division, has died from Ebola-related symptoms.

The rider reportedly began experiencing a heavy fever but initially avoided seeking medical care, hoping for recovery.

However, his condition worsened on Sunday afternoon when blood started oozing from his mouth and nose, followed by vomiting blood, which alarmed his colleagues. They then contacted the surveillance team for assistance. Upon arrival, the rider was taken to the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital’s Ebola isolation center, where he died shortly thereafter.

Jinja City’s Senior Health Educator, Sayyid Kalume, confirmed that samples had been collected from the deceased and would be sent to Mulago Hospital for further testing. Kalume also stated that a 200-meter area around the incident had been fumigated to reduce the risk of further infections. He emphasized that teams are working with village health team members to identify potential contacts and ensure proper management.

Kalume urged the public to refrain from spreading alarmist claims or misinformation on social media, asserting that the situation is under control with expatriate medical teams deployed to handle Ebola-related emergencies. The boda rider is reported to have been a relative of two other Ebola cases identified in the same area.

A health worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the boda rider was a brother to one of the Ebola patients and had been transporting her around for several days. Although the rider had been classified as a prime contact, he discreetly left the convergence center and was not seen again. The worker also noted that some family members of the initial Ebola cases had been unresponsive to isolation requests, potentially contributing to the spread of the virus.

While the Ministry of Health is the authority on confirming Ebola-related cases and deaths, the situation raises concerns about the management of contacts and the potential for further transmission if public health protocols are not fully adhered to.