Olushola Omogbehin
Uganda has reported the outbreak of the highly infectious Ebola virus following the death of scores of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Ugandan health ministry, the patient died in intensive care on May 14 after developing hemorrhagic symptoms.
The case was said to be an imported infection from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This was disclosed on Friday by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
In the Central African Nation, nearly 250 suspected cases of the virus and 65 deaths have been reported in the Central African nation.
These were recorded majorly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones.
CDC in a statement has confirmed four casualties among laboratory-confirmed cases.
Cases pending confirmation have also been reported in Bunia.
Having expressed concern about the risk of further spread due to the urban context of Bunia and Rwampara, CDC said it’s already in partnership with national authorities on a coordinated response.
Africa CDC Director General, Dr Jean Kaseya, has assured that the public health body is in solidarity with the government and people of DR Congo as they respond to the health crisis.
“We are working with DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and partners to strengthen surveillance, preparedness and response, and to help contain the outbreak as quickly as possible,” he added.
Ebola, is a severe and often fatal illness, spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected persons.
It can also spread through contaminated materials or person who died from the disease.
