Health Ministry investigating death of suspected Covid19 patient in Mbale

Uganda’s health ministry has dispatched a team of experts to the eastern Uganda city of Mbale to investigate claims that a woman admitted at Joyce Hospice Health Centre died of Covid19.

A 34-year-old woman who worked as a cleaner breathed her last after about a week of suffering Covid19-like symptoms, including fever, headache, difficulty in breathing, dry cough, flue and chest pain.

Joyce Hospice Health Centre where she was pronounced dead on July 21 has since been placed under surveillance.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said its officials have already taken samples from the deceased, who hailed Mabyale Sub County in Namisindwa District.

The Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) is yet to release the results from the test.

“The Ministry of Health has dispatched a team of experts to conduct further investigations,” read the statement in part.

“The Ministry will inform the country of the outcome of laboratory tests conducted on the body of the deceased accordingly.”

Health workers are also tracing the contacts of the deceased, a Kenyan national whose husband was Ugandan.

Uganda’s Covid19 infection toll stands at 1,075. Of these, 958 have recovered and none has succumbed to Covid19.

On the day the Mbale woman died, president Yoweri Museveni addressed the nation, starting with videos showing how Covid19 has devastated countries, overwhelming healthcare systems and claiming thousands.

Nevertheless, Museveni eased the lockdown, allowing bodabodas, salons and arcades to reopen.