JUST IN: Ebola Confirmed in Uganda

Uganda’s Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.

The world health body says that the virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

WHO also notes that the average EVD case fatality rate is around 50 per cent, with case fatality rates varying from 25 per cent to 90 per cent in past outbreaks.

MoH officials confirmed the outbreak of the haemorrhagic infection during a press conference held at the ministry headquarters in Wandegeya in the capital Kampala.

Confirming the Ebola outbreak this morning Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr Diana Atwine said the first case was confirmed in the district of Mubende.

Mubende is located about 150km from the capital Kampala. It takes two hours and 50 minutes for one to drive from Kampala to Mubende.

A male adult, aged 24, a resident of Ngabano Village of Madudu Sub County in Mubende District presented with Ebola or EVD symptoms.

He later died of the disease.

It is said that locals had reported a strange illness in the area days ago. The confirmed case is of a Sudan strain.

It was confirmed after after laboratory tests at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). 

Uganda’s Ministry of Health and WHO are expected to deploy staff and supplies and helping with the investigation and response.

The outbreak of the Ebola Disease comes as Uganda is struggling to recover from the effects of the Covid19 pandemic. (Read Stories Here and There).