Uganda announces first death from Ebola since 2019

An electron microscope image of the Ebola virus.

CDC/Frederick A. Murphy

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Uganda announces this Tuesday, September 20 in the morning to face a new epidemic of Ebola, after having detected a first case of the hemorrhagic fever virus in the center of the country, confirmed Monday evening by the health authorities.

It is the first case in the country since the last outbreak was declared in 2019.

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With our correspondent in Kampala,

The confirmed case is of a 24-year-old man who died on Monday and a resident of Mubende district in the central region of Uganda.

Originally treated in a treatment center for malaria and pneumonia, then placed in isolation from September 15, health authorities declared him positive for the Sudanese strain of Ebola, the last time detected in the country in 2012.

WHO sends teams to deal with

An investigation is underway to determine the source of his infection and possible contact cases.

Eight other suspected patients are currently being cared for, also in Mubende, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which has announced that it will send teams to the region to help healthcare workers.

Uganda has experienced several outbreaks of the Ebola virus,

with five deaths.

But the most violent took place in 2000, in the north of the country, with more than 200 confirmed deaths.

►Also read: The WHO strongly recommends two treatments for Ebola, a first

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• Uganda

• Health and medicine

• Ebola