Uganda loses first medical doctor in Ebola outbreak

Mohammed Ali, a medical doctor in Uganda, died after contracting the Ebola virus. 

Jane Ruth Aceng, the Ugandan minister for health, confirmed this in a series of tweets on Saturday.

According to Aceng, Ali, a Tanzanian national is the first medical doctor who lost the fight against Ebola in the country.

He was said to have tested positive for the Ebola virus on Monday, September 26 and died while receiving treatment at Fort Portal RRH, an isolation facility on Saturday.

”I regret to announce that we have lost our first doctor, Dr Mohammed Ali, a Tanzanian National, 37yr old male today at 3:15 am.

“He tested positive for Ebola on September 26, 2022, and died while receiving treatment at Fort Portal RRH, Isolation facility (JMedic).

“I condole with his family, medical fraternity, KIU university and the people of Tanzania,” she wrote in a series of tweets.

I regret to announce that we have lost our first doctor, Dr Mohammed Ali, a Tanzanian National, 37yr old Male today at 3:15am. He tested positive of Ebola on Sept 26, 2022 and died while receiving treatment at Fort Portal RRH, Isolation facility ( JMedic). pic.twitter.com/NoqEUtqKcM

— Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero (@JaneRuth_Aceng) October 1, 2022

I condole with his family, medical fraternity, KIU university and the people of Tanzania.
Dr. Ali is the first Doctor, and second health worker to have succumbed to Ebola. The first was a midwife from St Florence Clinic, a probable case, because she died before testing. https://t.co/iYntWVpfoe

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— Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero (@JaneRuth_Aceng) October 1, 2022

The health minister explained that while Ali is the first medical doctor to die from the virus, he was not the first health practitioner to have succumbed to Ebola.

“Dr. Ali is the first Doctor, and second health worker to have succumbed to Ebola.

“The first was a midwife from St Florence Clinic, a probable case because she died before testing. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” she explained.

Uganda has experienced several Ebola outbreaks, most recently in 2019 when at least five people died.