Uganda has registered the first coronavirus case carried by a 36-year-old man who flew in aboard an Ethiopian Airlines.
The man who is a resident of Kibuli, Kakungulu Zone in Kampala arrived at Entebbe International Aiport from Dubai at 2am Saturday, March 21, 2020.
Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, the Minister for Health told the press that the man “presented symptoms of high fever and poor appetite.”
“During the screening process at the airport, his temperature was 38.7. This prompted the health teams to isolate him at the airport for further follow up,” she said.
“Subsequent temperatures taken at intervals of 30 minutes and one hour remained the same,” Dr Aeng added.
The man was later taken to Entebbe Grade B Hospital for further follow up. His nasal swab was taken to Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for analysis with results indicating that the man tested positive for COVID-19.
The minister said: “He is not coughing neither did he have flue. However, the persistent high fever prompted the health workers to isolate him.”
Dr Aceng said the patient is stable but with a fairly high temperature in isolation at the hospital.
The man travelled to Dubai in good health on March 17, 2020 to transact business.
The minister disclosed that all passports for passengers who were aboard the plane have been retrieved.
“We know all the passengers who were on the plane. They were not many. Since they are all under quarantine, they are easy to follow up and evacuate.”
Borders have been closed to all passengers and airspace closed to commercial aircrafts to counter COVID-19, the minister said.
