Kampala, 23 September 2022 (TDI): World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the fresh Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda. WHO has confirmed 7 cases including one death from this new variant of this disease. Two days before this announcement, WHO had confirmed the first case of this new variant, the Sudan strain.
A rare strain of Ebola has claimed at least one life in Uganda, @WHO confirmed on Thursday. The agency is ramping up efforts to contain the virus. https://t.co/SJXsqSti6V
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) September 23, 2022
The Sudan strain of this virus was detected in 2012 for the last time in Uganda. The organization has identified forty-three contacts, and it believes that ten people have caught the virus. These patients are currently getting the required healthcare and treatment in Mubende.
There are gold mines in this area which attract people across Uganda and from other countries too. There is an increased risk of spreading this virus due to the mobile nature of the population.
Also read: WHO warns of disease threat in Horn of Africa
Efforts of WHO
WHO has increased its efforts in controlling the spread of this virus. Teams are working for the surveillance, prevention, control, and management of the cases. The organization is also working on surveillance in neighbouring regions to control the spread.
WHO is bolstering the #Ebola disease outbreak response in #Uganda by delivering medical supplies, providing logistics & deploying staff to support national authorities. 7 cases, including 1 death, have been confirmed to have contracted the Sudan ebolavirus https://t.co/MHknw89myc pic.twitter.com/9HJYZQ0LWX
— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) September 22, 2022
Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, the Regional Emergency Director with the WHO Regional Office for Africa said, “Africa’s stronger homegrown emergency readiness is proving ever more crucial in tackling outbreaks such as Ebola.”
He added, “We are acting quickly and decisively to draw the reins on this outbreak. Our experts are already working with Uganda’s experienced Ebola control teams to reinforce surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and preventive measures.”
ERVEBO vaccine, which is highly effective against the Zaire ebolavirus, is unsuitable against the Sudan Ebola virus. There are six candidate vaccines against this variant of the Ebola virus. They are in different stages of development.
The WHO Research and Development team is in contact with all vaccine developers to determine the most suitable one. Furthermore, WHO is working with experts to come up with a cure as soon as possible.
Ebola may prove to be deadly but early identification increases the chances of survival. WHO has experienced teams to tackle this outbreak.
