Uganda on alert after Ebola outbreak in DRC

Uganda's health ministry said on Thursday it had stepped up surveillance along its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the resurgence of the deadly Ebola virus in the Central African country.

Ruth Aceng, Uganda's health minister, said in a statement that the new Ebola outbreak in Butembo, North Kivu province in eastern DRC, was putting Uganda at risk.

"In light of this epidemic, the country has stepped up its surveillance and preparedness, and the following activities are being undertaken to prevent the importation of Ebola: increased risk communication, reactivation of district working groups for Ebola virus disease and sending the rapid response to Kasese district," Aceng said.

Health authorities on Wednesday confirmed the second positive case of Ebola in the Butembo health zone.

Ebola is a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever that causes a range of symptoms, including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or discomfort, and, in many cases, internal and external bleeding, according to the World Health Organization.

Mortality rates for this viral disease are extremely high, with the human mortality rate ranging from 50 to 89% depending on the viral subtype, according to the WHO.

.Source: Xinhua News Agency