Uganda has declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) after health authorities confirmed a case of the relatively rare Sudan strain.
A 24-year-old man in Mubende District showed EVD symptoms and later succumbed.
Senior Ministry of Health staff rushed to Mubende to investigate after an unknown number of residents succumbed to what was initially reported as a “strange illness” until yesterday’s confirmation.
“Uganda confirms an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Mubende District, Uganda. The confirmed case is a 24-year-old male a resident Ngabano village of Madudu Sub County in Mubende District presented with EVD symptoms and later succumbed,” the health ministry said.
There are currently eight suspected cases receiving care in a health facility, WHO’s Africa office said in a statement, adding that it was helping Uganda’s health authorities with their investigation and deploying staff to the affected area.
“Uganda is no stranger to effective Ebola control. Thanks to its expertise, action has been taken to quickly to detect the virus and we can bank on this knowledge to halt the spread of infections,” Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Africa’s regional director, said.
The virus was imported from neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo which was battling a large epidemic in its north-eastern region.
WHO is helping Ugandan health authorities with the investigation and is deploying staff to the affected area.
The Organisation has dispatched supplies to support the care of patients and is sending a tent that will be used to isolate patients.