Uganda Reassures on Ebola Fears

The Ugandan government has moved to reassure the county after an incident in which there was a suspected Ebola death in the country.

The Ministry of Health has confirmed that blood tests conducted on the deceased were found to be negative for the disease and that he had in fact died of pulmonary tuberculosis. They have also reassured the public that they will continue to be vigilant in the matter.

While the victim has been living in the DRC 13 individuals were quarantined in connection with the incident after they had contact with the victim as they repatriated his body to Uganda. A joint statement released by the Ministry of Health and World Heath Organisation confirmed, "Thirteen people from Tororo went to collect the body and passed through the border check point in Zombo district and proceeded to Tororo."

The outbreak of Ebola in the DRC has troubled the region for more than six months, claiming more than 460 lives.

Concerns are increasing that the outbreak may threaten the wider East Africa region, with WHO issuing a warning and advising countries sharing a border with the DRC to strengthen surveillance and alert systems for early detection, as well as response times. As it stands Rwanda, Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi are ranked as priority one countries, with Angola, Congo, the Central African Republic, Tanzania and Zambia ranked priority two.

In Uganda some vaccination of healthcare workers at priority sites has begun, with similar measures expected to be rolled out in Rwanda and South Sudan. South Sudan has also opened a new Infectious Diseases Unit.