By: Melanie Aanyu

The Ministry of Health has cautioned the public against the use of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDT) in testing for the Ebola virus.

The ministry says that the practice is illegal and puts health workers at risk of infection.

Dr Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services said they received an alert that several private health facilities are testing people using RDTs, yet these are not authorized for confirmation of the viral hemorrhagic fever.

Mwebesa says that currently, all Ebola testing is done exclusively by the government through the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the Central Public Health Laboratory in Butabika at no cost.

 At the moment, the facilities are supplemented by a mobile laboratory which is stationed at Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, the epicentre of the latest Ebola outbreak.