The Ruwenzori, also spelled Rwenzori and Rwenjura, are a range of mountains in eastern equatorial Africa, located on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Geneva: Ebola has claimed 29 lives in Uganda where so far 63 confirmed and probable Ebola cases have been reported in four districts. The dead includes four health workers. Ten health workers too are infected, the World Health Organization stated here today.
The vaccines used successfully to curb recent Ebola outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not effective against the type of Ebola virus that is responsible for this outbreak in Uganda. However, the WHO stated, several vaccines are in various stages of development against this virus, two of which could begin clinical trials in Uganda in the coming weeks, pending regulatory and ethics approvals from the Ugandan government.
WHO stated it was continuing to support the Ugandan government to respond to an outbreak of Ebola disease in four districts.
It informed that four people had recovered and are receiving follow-up care.
“WHO has released US$2 million from our Contingency Fund for Emergencies, and we’re working with our partners to support the Ministry of Health by sending additional specialists, supplies, and resources,” WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. He said when there is a delay in detecting an Ebola outbreak, it is normal for cases to increase steadily at the beginning and then decrease as life-saving interventions and outbreak control measures are implemented.
Photo: The Ruwenzori mountainslocated on the border between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Source Pixabay
– global bihari bureau
