DRC’s Ebola Outbreak Spreads to Uganda
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the first Ugandan case of the deadly virus, Ebola, since the outbreak began in neighbouring country, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year.
The virus has already killed more than 1400 people, with over 2000 Ebola cases recorded in DRC over the last ten months.
A 5-year-old Congolese boy who travelled across the border with his family to Uganda on Sunday was admitted to Kagando hospital after having Ebola-like symptoms, which includes vomiting blood.
Ebola tests were conducted and the diagnosis was confirmed on Tuesday by the Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI). The child was then transferred to Bwera Ebola Treatment Unit for management and is now being kept in isolation.
Two of his family members were also tested for Ebola after developing similar symptoms, and the results are expected on Wednesday, 12 June 2019.
The Ugandan ministry of health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Centre for Disease Control are working jointly to eliminate the spread of this deadly disease.
More than 4700 health workers have been vaccinated and all contacts of infected patients will soon be vaccinated to prevent new infections.
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