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“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” –Mark Jenkins

Wednesday, 1 August 2012

Killer virus kills 14 people!

The Ebola virusOk so the news wasn't great from Uganda this week...
A few weeks ago in Kibaale (300kms North East of Ruhanga but still in the Western district), a number of people were found to have died from an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19048998

Since then 14 people have died (some of them children) and most of them from the same family, when the virus spread at a funeral and was then passed to the health workers who were treating the patients.  The BBC reported that "President Yoweri Museveni has urged people to avoid physical contact, after the deadly Ebola virus claimed one life in the capital, Kampala."
Since we will be flying into Entebbe and then going into Kampala bus station to catch a bus out to Ruhanga, I have decided to wear gloves during the journey to avoid appearing rude and not shaking peoples hands.
There is unfortunately no cure or vaccine for Ebola, but some googling of alternative (homeopathic) remedies has revealed that the venom of a particular Timber Rattlesnake is known to be effective if taken immediately... Knowing the ease with which viruses seem to seek me out and munch through my blood cells (and remembering all too clearly my frightening episode with Malaria), I decided to order some "Crotalus Horridus" in tablet form just in case - you wouldnt believe how hard it is to get hold of in the UK due to ridiculous shipment and advertising laws that have been handed out by the EU. I only hope it arrives in time - 8 days to go! 
Click here for Tuesday's BBC News update
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