Uganda confirms Ebola outbreak in Mubende

The Ministry of Health in Uganda has confirmed an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Mubende District, Uganda. Uganda Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine says that the first case to be reported was that of a 24 year old man from Ngabano village in Madudu Sub County who had high fever, diarrhoea and abdominal pains when he visited a health facility and was initially treated for malaria before succumbing. Samples collected from the deceased for testing confirmed that he was positive for the Ebola-Sudan strain. The World Health Organisation says the confirmed case follows an investigation by the National Rapid Response team on six suspicious deaths that have occurred in the district this month and that currently eight suspected cases are receiving care in a health facility. The Ministry of Health and WHO have dispatched a Rapid Response Team to Mubende District to support the teams in surveillance, contact tracing, and case management. The government has urged members of the public to remain vigilant and calm as teams undertake the necessary action to prevent spread of the virus. Uganda last reported an outbreak of Sudan ebolavirus in 2012