Uganda reports Ebola outbreak.
It has just been confirmed by the Uganda health ministry and
World Health Organisation (WHO) that an outbreak of Ebola has been declared in
Uganda. A 24-year-old man in Uganda’s central Mubende district showed symptoms
and later died. Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng was said to be in New York, and
sources show that officials first informed President Museveni. The Democratic
Republic of Congo which borders Uganda, has been battling with the disease for
a while and recently reported a case on the 21st of August in the
Beni city according to WHO.
Ebola is a rare virus that causes severe bleeding, organ
failure and can lead to death. Humans may spread the virus to other humans
through contact with bodily fluids such as blood. Initial symptoms include
fever, headache, muscle pain and chills. Later, a person may experience
internal bleeding resulting in vomiting or coughing blood. Emergency care is needed
if a person confirms they have the virus.
The ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr. Diana Atwine, stated
in a news conference on Tuesday that “the man had a high fever, diarrhoea and
abdominal pains and was vomiting blood. He had initially been treated for
malaria”. Atwine said six of the man’s relatives who died earlier this month —
three adults and three children from the same family — also may have had Ebola.
Uganda has had at least three previous outbreaks of Ebola, the deadliest being
in the year 2000 that was reported to have killed hundreds, including the lead
treatment officer Dr. Matthew Lukwiya.
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