| 19 Novembre 2012
Ebola in Uganda 17 November 2012 - The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Uganda has notified WHO of an outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Luweero district in Central Uganda.
Four cases, including 3 fatal, have been reported. Samples were taken from two cases, for which laboratory confirmation of Ebola virus (species Sudan) was made by PCR and serology tests at the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) in Entebbe. The Ministry of Health, WHO and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have sent a team to conduct preliminary investigation into the outbreak. Health authorities are conducting active case search and tracing close contacts of the confirmed and probable cases.
The isolation facility at Mulago hospital in Kampala is reactivated and another isolation facility at Nyimbwa Health Center IV at the epicenter is being established. The military hospital in Bombo, Luweero district is also serving a holding center until the isolation facility is properly set up at the Nyimbwa Health Center IV.
Seven close contacts of the cases have developed symptoms and are being isolated in the isolation facilities. WHO and partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Uganda Red Cross (URCS), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and Médecins-Sans-Frontières (MSF) are supporting the authorities in the response activities.
Experts in the area of field epidemiology, health promotion, logistics management, and infection prevention and control are being identified to provide additional support through the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). With respect to this event, WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restriction be applied to Uganda.
The following item has been published on the WHO Disease Outbreak News website: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_11_17/en/index.html
