Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has issued a statement clarifying that there are no confirmed cases of viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) at the hospital.
Earlier, unverified social media reports had suggested that two patients admitted to the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department on February 2, 2025, were suspected of having VHF.
However, in a news conference held at the hospital, Dr. Deus Twesigye, the Acting Hospital Director, revealed that all test results had returned negative for VHF, including Rift Valley Hemorrhagic Fever (RVHF), Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF).
“We want to reassure the public that there is no outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever at our hospital, as portrayed by social media,” Dr. Twesigye said.
Dr. Twesigye added that the samples from a 15-year-old boy from Nakivale Refugee Settlement and a 19-year-old girl from Kiruhura were sent to the National Reference Laboratory, which confirmed the negative results.
It is said that the two patients had been passing bloody stool, prompting the medical staff to take extra precautions, as the Ministry of Health, through Permanent Secretary Dr. Diana Atwine, had announced a potential Ebola Virus Disease case.
The girl has since been managed and discharged. Unfortunately, efforts to resuscitate her counterpart did not succeed, and he passed away. Sources revealed that by the time the deceased was referred to the hospital, he was already severely dehydrated.
“We take the safety of our patients and staff very seriously, and we have strict protocols in place to handle any suspected cases of infectious diseases,” Dr. Twesigye said.
The hospital has urged the public to remain calm and to rely on credible sources of information. Dr. Twesigye also emphasized the hospital’s commitment to providing quality healthcare services and to working closely with the Ministry of Health to prevent and control infectious diseases.
Halson Kagure, the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer, told the media that the hospital is well-prepared to handle any suspected cases of viral hemorrhagic fever with the support of the Ministry of Health.
Kagure added that the hospital has a dedicated team specialized in managing infectious diseases at the hospital’s Infectious Diseases Treatment Center, where Mpox patients are currently being treated.
“Our teams have regularly conducted continuous medical training on managing these infectious diseases, and the Ministry of Health has been doing an excellent job in providing us with updated resources to guide our dedicated medical staff,” Kagure remarked.
Meanwhile, the Hospital Spokesman Kagure has cautioned the public to continue following the Ministry of Health’s advisory on preventing Ebola.
Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has successfully managed 113 confirmed cases of Mpox. Of those, 127 patients have been successfully treated and discharged, with 19 still undergoing management as of the press time.
