Published Date: 2012-07-29 09:59:44
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (02): (KI)
Archive Number: 20120729.1219160

EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER - UGANDA (02): (KIBAALE)
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Date: Sat 28 Jul 2012
Source: Reuters US [edited]
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/28/us-uganda-ebola-idUSBRE86R0JM20120728

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13: official
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KAMPALA: An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus.

Joaquim Saweka, WHO's representative in Uganda, said that although suspected Ebola infections emerged in early July in Kibale district, about 170 km (100 miles) west of the capital Kampala, the outbreak was not confirmed until Friday (27 Jul 2012). "There is a total of 20 people suspected to have contracted Ebola and 13 of them have died," Saweka said. "A team of experts from the government, WHO and CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) are in the field and following up on all suspected cases and those who got into contact with patients." Saweka said the origin of the outbreak had not yet been confirmed, but 18 of the 20 cases are understood to be linked to one family.

Kibale is near the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where the virus emerged in 1976, taking its name from the Ebola River. The symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rashes, impaired kidney and liver function and both internal and external bleeding. Ebola was last reported in Uganda in May last year when it killed a 12-year-old girl. The country's most devastating outbreak was in 2000 when 425 people were infected, more than half of whom died.

(By Elias Biryabarema)

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Communicated by:
ProMEd-mail rapporteur Mary Marshall

[Previously the number of fatalities has been reported variously as 13 or 14. The only new information in this report is the statement that: "18 of the 20 cases are understood to be linked to one family". Further information is awaited. - Mod.CP

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1wa6.]

See Also

Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda: (KI) 20120728.1218683
Undiagnosed fatal disease - Uganda (02): (KI) 20120728.1218652
Undiagnosed fatal disease - Uganda: (KI) 20120725.1214822
2008
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Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (06): (Bundibugyo), new species 20081121.3675
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (05): (Bundibugyo), susp. 20080304.0883
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (04): (Bundibugyo), WHO 20080221.0704
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (02): (Bundibugyo) 20080107.0092
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda: (Bundibugyo) 20080104.0050
2007
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Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (11): (Bundibugyo) 20071215.4031
Hemorrhagic fever - Uganda (04): (Bundibugyo), Ebola confirmed 20071130.3859
Ebola hemorrhagic fever - Uganda: (Bundibugyo), WHO 20071130.3869
.................................................cp/dk