The health minister has discarded as untrue claims doing rounds that a Ugandan medical student who has tested positive for Coronavirus.
Jane Ruth Aceng the Minister of Health has called on Ugandans not to pay attention to these baseless circulations.
While addressing journalists on Wednesday, Aceng said currently,71 Ugandan students in different parts of China are under quarantine in their places of residence.
She noted that in Uganda, surveillance has also been intensified at the airport and any suspected case will be picked and taken to Entebbe and Naguru hospitals under quarantine.
There are 24,300 confirmed coronavirus cases and 500 deaths worldwide.
The coronavirus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms usually start with a fever, followed by a dry cough. Most people infected are likely to fully recover – just as they would from flu.
The virus has spread overseas, with some 25 nations confirming cases, although there have so far been only two deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a global health emergency. Its chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Wednesday appealed for $675m (£520m) to fund a three-month response plan.
Dr. Yonas Tegegn Woldermariam, the World Health Organization Uganda Country Representative said they have resolved to quarantine those that test and have no symptoms but have traveled to China too.
He said these are being isolated at their homes but health teams will be doing spot checks on them for a period of 14 days.
