Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak
Uganda on Wednesday announced the end of an Ebola virus outbreak that began nearly four months ago and claimed the lives of 55 people.
"We have successfully controlled the Ebola outbreak in Uganda," Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said at a ceremony in the central district of Mubende, where the disease was detected for the first time in September.
This decision was confirmed in a statement issued by the World Health Organization.
Aceng said January 11 marked 113 days since the start of the often-fatal hemorrhagic fever outbreak in the East African country.
According to the WHO, an epidemic of the disease ends when there are no new cases for 42 consecutive days, which is twice the incubation period of Ebola.
“Uganda brought the Ebola outbreak to a rapid end by strengthening key control measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and infection, prevention and control,” the official said. minister quoted in the WHO press release.
“While we intensified our efforts to mount a strong response in the nine affected districts, the silver bullet has been our communities who have understood the importance of doing what was necessary to end the epidemic. and took action."
WHO said there are a total of 142 confirmed cases, 55 confirmed deaths and 87 recovered patients.
He said the outbreak in Uganda was caused by Sudan Ebola virus, one of six species of Ebola virus for which no vaccine has yet been approved.
AFP
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Uganda on Wednesday announced the end of an Ebola virus outbreak that began nearly four months ago and claimed the lives of 55 people.
"We have successfully controlled the Ebola outbreak in Uganda," Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said at a ceremony in the central district of Mubende, where the disease was detected for the first time in September.
This decision was confirmed in a statement issued by the World Health Organization.
Aceng said January 11 marked 113 days since the start of the often-fatal hemorrhagic fever outbreak in the East African country.
According to the WHO, an epidemic of the disease ends when there are no new cases for 42 consecutive days, which is twice the incubation period of Ebola.
“Uganda brought the Ebola outbreak to a rapid end by strengthening key control measures such as surveillance, contact tracing and infection, prevention and control,” the official said. minister quoted in the WHO press release.
“While we intensified our efforts to mount a strong response in the nine affected districts, the silver bullet has been our communities who have understood the importance of doing what was necessary to end the epidemic. and took action."
WHO said there are a total of 142 confirmed cases, 55 confirmed deaths and 87 recovered patients.
He said the outbreak in Uganda was caused by Sudan Ebola virus, one of six species of Ebola virus for which no vaccine has yet been approved.
AFP
Please share this story:
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this website may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior express written permission of PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
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