Two people have died in a fresh Ebola outbreak in the central Ugandan district of Luweero just a month after the World Health Organisation recommended the country be declared Ebola-free.
Two other deaths in the same district are suspected to have been caused by the Ebola virus, Uganda’s Daily Monitor reports.
The epicenter of the outbreak is in Sombwe Parish, Nyimbwa Sub County, Luwero district which is located about 40km north of the capital Kampala.
Dr. Joseph Okware, the Luweero District Health Officer was quoted by the Daily Monitor saying blood samples of the deceased, both members of the same family, that were tested at the Central Public Health Laboratory confirmed that the two had died of Ebola haemorrhagic fever of the Sudan strain.
Joaquim Saweka, the WHO country representative told Xinhua on Wednesday that the outbreak was confirmed on Tuesday following laboratory tests that turned out positive for the disease.
“Yes that is true, we have dispatched one team to make preliminary assessment and also set up an isolation unit,” he said.
The outbreak comes at a time when country is still experiencing Marburg fever outbreak in several areas of western Uganda after Ebola which claimed at least 20 people was contained in Kibaale District.
-Agencies
