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 30 August 2008 05:09 BST

Uganda ebola outbreak confirmed

Friday, 30 Nov 2007 21:12
The outbreak is located in Bundibugyo, Uganda
A new outbreak of the deadly ebola virus has been confirmed in Uganda.

Laboratory tests conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the US established the disease was behind over 50 cases in Uganda's western Bundibugyo district.

There have been 16 reported deaths in the latest outbreak of the ebola virus, for which there is no known vaccine or treatment.

According to initial analysis the strain of the virus has not matched any previous subtypes, leaving scientists concluding a new species of ebola has been discovered.

The Ugandan Ministry of Health said it appeared the current outbreak has been ongoing since September this year.

This year's outbreak is the first in Uganda since 2000/01, when 425 cases were reported. Of these, 224 patients died.

Ebola is transferred by direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected humans or animals like gorillas, monkeys and chimpanzees.

It causes fever, intense weakness, vomiting, impaired kidney and liver function and in the worst cases, external and internal bleeding.

In total over 1,300 people have died from ebola virus since the first case in Sudan in 1976.

The deadliest outbreak killed 280 in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, in 1976. The most recent saw nine fatalities in the same country in 2005.End of story


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