Prayer Request: Ebola Outbreak

I just wanted to post a quick update and ask for some special prayer. There is currently an outbreak of Ebola in Western Uganda. The numbers are sketchy at this point, but it has been reported that over a hundred people have been infected and about 35 have died so far. The outbreak actually started there several months ago. However it appears (though not certain) that the outbreak was kept quiet because of the Commonwealth meetings that were happening in Kampala last month. I’m sure the last thing the Ugandan government wanted was for all the foreign dignitaries to cancel their trip after finding out that Ebola was present in Uganda. Although more precautions could have been taken from outset, it now appears that the outbreak is being contained. There has been a steady decline in the number of new cases each day and health officials have been reporting an end to the outbreak.

Ebola is a killer disease that causes internal hemorrhaging. It is highly contagious and carries a 50% mortality rate. There is no official cure at this point. The disease was first identified in Congo in the 1970s. Since that time, there have been outbreaks in Sudan and Uganda as well.

COH does not work in or near the area where the outbreak occurred. And it does not seem that the disease has infected anyone outside of the original outbreak area. I do not feel as if I am in any grave danger. Please just continue to pray that appropriate measures will be taken and that the outbreak would not spread to other areas of Uganda or the DRC. Pray also for the families of the people that have been infected.

Aside from that somber news, we at COH are preparing for the holiday season. Tomorrow we are having a Christmas party for the kids. Then our office will be closed for the next two weeks during Christmas and New Year’s. This will be the first time since I have been in Uganda that I will have an entire week with no agenda and no traveling! I am looking forward to it. The past month or two has been intense and next month will be the same. The “vacation” time is much needed. Jonathan arrived here safely last week and has been enjoying his time meeting the kids and seeing Uganda. He has taken on a lot of handyman jobs as well as spending time with the children in the project.

I pray that your Christmas is wonderful and that you and your family will be blessed this holiday season as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior.