Outbreak: Deadly Ebola Virus Emerges in Uganda Killing 14

Uganda’s Ministry of Health said on Monday that initially the outbreak went undetected because patients did not show typical symptoms. 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. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, rashes, impaired kidney and liver function and both internal and external bleeding. “The death toll still remains at 14 with only three confirmed to have died of Ebola. There are seven suspected cases admitted at Kagadi district hospital and are responding well to the treatment given to them, other people who got into contact have not reported any signs of the disease so far but we continue to monitor them very very closely,” Ondoa said. Efforts are underway to contain the spread. “So far we have 34 contacts of health workers who from the hospital, these are being traced for having had contacts with the patients but the community tracing is also beginning so as my colleague mentioned the number will keep increasing as we trace the contacts more,” Ondoa said. The suspected Ebola infections emerged in early July, in the Kibale district, roughly 100 miles west of the capital Kampala, but the outbreak was not confirmed until Friday. Kibale is also the birthplace of the virus, which took its name from the Ebola River, nearby where it emerged in …