Ebola outbreak in Uganda declared over
Uganda has declared itself free of Ebola, the World Health Organization announced Thursday.
The last confirmed case of the disease that causes a potentially deadly hemorrhagic fever was on August 3 and was discharged from the hospital 21 days later. A total of 24 cases were reported, including 17 deaths, the WHO said in a statement.
"WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to the Uganda with respect to this event," said health officials.
The Ebola virus causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Rashes, red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding are also symptoms that are sometimes presented.
- Ebola claims 31 lives in Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ebola outbreak in Uganda under control, World Health Organization says
- Ebola virus fears strike Uganda's capital city
In July an outbreak of Ebola virus tied to a funeral began to infect residents of the African nation. The first victim of the Ebola outbreak was a 3-month-old girl and of the 65 people who attended her funeral, 15 later contracted the deadly disease. At least 11 people who attended the funeral died from Ebola, according to previous reports.
Health officials declared the outbreak under control in August after creating an "Ebola contact list' to isolate 176 people who had contact with people infected with Ebola.
Once the maximum incubation period for Ebola was met by the last infected patient, officials at Uganda's Ministry of Health declared the outbreak over.
An unrelated Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may have infected up to 108 people, killing 31. The outbreak was blamed on tainted bushmeat that local villagers hunted.
The WHO has yet to declare that outbreak over.
