bacpacker
11-16-2012, 12:24 AM
I just ran across a couple of news articles about this. Here is a couple of them.
htthttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/scores-isolated-ebola-outbreak-uganda-17720395#.UKWUv2eVO9sp://
Scores of Ugandans were isolated on Thursday to prevent the spread of a new outbreak of Ebola which has already killed three people.
Uganda has experienced increasingly regular outbreaks of deadly hemorrhagic fevers that have left health officials grappling for answers.
The new Ebola outbreak was confirmed Wednesday in a district 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The outbreak comes roughly a month after Uganda declared itself Ebola-free following an earlier outbreak in a remote district of western Uganda. Last month at least five people in a southwestern district of Uganda were killed by Marburg, a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola.
The latest Ebola outbreak, officials say, is of the Sudan strain of Ebola and not linked to the previous one, of the Congo variety, which killed at least 16 villagers in July and August in the western district of Kibaale. In addition to the three dead in the latest outbreak, up to 15 are being monitored for signs of the disease, officials said. They advised against panic after it was revealed that two possible Ebola patients had since checked into Kampala's main referral hospital.
"The Ministry of Health once again calls upon the public to stay calm as all possible measures are being undertaken to control the situation," Christine Ondoa, Uganda's minister of health, said.
Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Watch Video
Ebola Virus in Uganda: At Least 17 Dead Watch Video
Ebola Outbreak: Deadly Virus Spreads in Uganda Watch Video
Ebola is especially feared in Uganda, where multiple outbreaks have occurred over the years, and news of it can cause patients to flee hospitals to avoid infection. In 2000, in one of the world's worst Ebola outbreaks, the disease infected 425 Ugandans and killed more than half of them in the country's north. Another outbreak in 2007 killed 37 people in Bundibugyo, a remote district close to the Congolese border.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20338014
Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills two
The Ebola virus Up to 90% of those who contract Ebola die from the virus
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Progress towards Ebola vaccine
Mystery Ugandan illness kills 38
Scientists 'closer to Ebola drug'
A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda has killed at least two people, the health minister has said.
Christine Ondoa said two members of the same family died over the weekend not far from the capital - and a third person was also suspected to have died in that area of the haemorrhagic fever.
An estimated 17 people died in western Uganda during an outbreak in July.
According to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), there had been no cases since August.
'Avoid gatherings'
Dr Ondoa said that investigators had found conclusive evidence of Ebola in Luweero, about 60km (37 miles) from the capital, Kampala.
A third man had also died in the area late last month after showing symptoms of Ebola however no samples were taken from the victim and the case was not reported to health officials at the times, she said.
Five people who came into contact with those who died are being monitored. Two of them have been admitted to an isolation unit at Kampala's main Mulago hospital, the minister said.
Map
There is no known cure for Ebola, but patients can be treated for their symptoms with antibiotics, drugs for pain relief and for other diseases such as malaria, to strengthen their resistance.
The virus causes death in 90% of human cases.
Dr Ondoa said the disease is "very infectious" and kills "in a short time", but is "easily" preventable.
Among precautionary measures she urged people to take were:
Avoid public gatherings, including funerals, in affected districts
Bury victims immediately under the supervision of health officials
Avoid direct contact with body fluids of Ebola patients by using gloves and masks
Disinfect the bedding and clothing of an infected person and
Avoid eating dead animals, especially monkeys.
Uganda has seen several major Ebola outbreaks over the past 12 years.
The deadliest was in 2000 when 425 people were infected. More than half of them died.
The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says many Ugandans are wondering why the country is so prone to Ebola outbreaks.
The government has said it is because its systems are getting better at detecting them.
htthttp://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/scores-isolated-ebola-outbreak-uganda-17720395#.UKWUv2eVO9sp://
Scores of Ugandans were isolated on Thursday to prevent the spread of a new outbreak of Ebola which has already killed three people.
Uganda has experienced increasingly regular outbreaks of deadly hemorrhagic fevers that have left health officials grappling for answers.
The new Ebola outbreak was confirmed Wednesday in a district 60 kilometers (40 miles) from the Ugandan capital, Kampala. The outbreak comes roughly a month after Uganda declared itself Ebola-free following an earlier outbreak in a remote district of western Uganda. Last month at least five people in a southwestern district of Uganda were killed by Marburg, a hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola.
The latest Ebola outbreak, officials say, is of the Sudan strain of Ebola and not linked to the previous one, of the Congo variety, which killed at least 16 villagers in July and August in the western district of Kibaale. In addition to the three dead in the latest outbreak, up to 15 are being monitored for signs of the disease, officials said. They advised against panic after it was revealed that two possible Ebola patients had since checked into Kampala's main referral hospital.
"The Ministry of Health once again calls upon the public to stay calm as all possible measures are being undertaken to control the situation," Christine Ondoa, Uganda's minister of health, said.
Ebola Outbreak in Uganda Watch Video
Ebola Virus in Uganda: At Least 17 Dead Watch Video
Ebola Outbreak: Deadly Virus Spreads in Uganda Watch Video
Ebola is especially feared in Uganda, where multiple outbreaks have occurred over the years, and news of it can cause patients to flee hospitals to avoid infection. In 2000, in one of the world's worst Ebola outbreaks, the disease infected 425 Ugandans and killed more than half of them in the country's north. Another outbreak in 2007 killed 37 people in Bundibugyo, a remote district close to the Congolese border.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20338014
Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills two
The Ebola virus Up to 90% of those who contract Ebola die from the virus
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Progress towards Ebola vaccine
Mystery Ugandan illness kills 38
Scientists 'closer to Ebola drug'
A fresh outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Uganda has killed at least two people, the health minister has said.
Christine Ondoa said two members of the same family died over the weekend not far from the capital - and a third person was also suspected to have died in that area of the haemorrhagic fever.
An estimated 17 people died in western Uganda during an outbreak in July.
According to the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), there had been no cases since August.
'Avoid gatherings'
Dr Ondoa said that investigators had found conclusive evidence of Ebola in Luweero, about 60km (37 miles) from the capital, Kampala.
A third man had also died in the area late last month after showing symptoms of Ebola however no samples were taken from the victim and the case was not reported to health officials at the times, she said.
Five people who came into contact with those who died are being monitored. Two of them have been admitted to an isolation unit at Kampala's main Mulago hospital, the minister said.
Map
There is no known cure for Ebola, but patients can be treated for their symptoms with antibiotics, drugs for pain relief and for other diseases such as malaria, to strengthen their resistance.
The virus causes death in 90% of human cases.
Dr Ondoa said the disease is "very infectious" and kills "in a short time", but is "easily" preventable.
Among precautionary measures she urged people to take were:
Avoid public gatherings, including funerals, in affected districts
Bury victims immediately under the supervision of health officials
Avoid direct contact with body fluids of Ebola patients by using gloves and masks
Disinfect the bedding and clothing of an infected person and
Avoid eating dead animals, especially monkeys.
Uganda has seen several major Ebola outbreaks over the past 12 years.
The deadliest was in 2000 when 425 people were infected. More than half of them died.
The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in Kampala says many Ugandans are wondering why the country is so prone to Ebola outbreaks.
The government has said it is because its systems are getting better at detecting them.