Three deaths in new Ebola outbreak in Uganda

At least three people are confirmed to have died from Ebola haemorrhagic fever since last month, Uganda's

Health Ministry reported.

All the three victims were members of the same family in Kakute sub-county about 33 km north of here.

"Three victims have died since the onset of the outbreak in Luweero district,” Health Minister Dr Christine Odoa told the media here Thursday.

In the first case, a boda boda (public transport motorcycle) rider died on Oct 25 after showing signs of high fever and bleeding from some body parts, although no samples were taken for testing and nor was the case reported to the health centre.

In the second case, a 25-year-old woman died on Saturday after nursing the boda boda cyclist while the third, also a member of the same family, died on Monday at Nyimbwa Health Centre IV.

At least five people suspected to have come into contact with those infected or the deceased are under isolation, with two admitted at Mulago Hospital, one at Bombo Hospital and three in Luweero.

Acting director-general of Health Services Dr Dennis Lwamafa said health experts were also tracing at least 15 suspected cases in different parts of the country.

The recent Ebola outbreak comes barely two months after the country was declared Ebola-free.

The Health Ministry has dispatched a team of experts to assess the situation in Luweero and plans are underway to create isolation centres at Nyimbywa Health Centre IV and Bombo Hospital.

Dr Miriam Nanyunja, the World Health Organisation (WHO) disease prevention and control adviser in Uganda, said a team of health experts had arrived to boost efforts to contain the epidemic.