Deadly Ebola outbreak in Uganda

Efforts are underway to contain an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus that has killed at least 13 people in western Uganda.

There is no treatment or vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact

Most of the new cases are thought to be linked to one family who may have been infected at a funeral.

“The clinical presentation is typical of haemorrhagic fever, of a rapidly, highly infectious disease, because out of the 20 cases, 13 people have died – and in a short time – but also the people who have died are those who were in contact with family members who have died,” said Anthony Mbonye, Director of the Communicable Disease Department at Uganda’s Ministry of Health.

Ebola kills up to 90 percent of those who contract it.

Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, weakness, impaired kidney function and both internal and external bleeding.

Uganda’s most devastating outbreak was in 2000 when 425 people were infected, more than half of whom died.

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