New fears as man dies of Ebola weeks after six deaths from ‘strange illness’
A NEW Ebola outbreak has been declared as one man tragically dies.
The unnamed 24-year-old tested positive for a "relatively rare Sudan strain" of the deadly condition in Uganda.
This comes just weeks after six other people in the same area — including three children — died after suffering what local officials called a "strange illness".
Eight other suspected patients are undergoing treatment for the bug, the n (WHO) have said.
In response to the sudden rise in Ebola cases in the country, the Ugandan health authorities have now declared an outbreak of the bug.
The young man lived in the central Ugandan district of Mubende, just west of the capital, Kampala.
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This is where all suspected cases have come from so far.
It is unknown how the man initially became infected with the virus.
The Ministry of Health - Uganda said it was "working closely with the national health authorities to investigate the source of this outbreak while supporting the efforts to quickly roll out effective control measures".
The confirmed Ebola victim was initially treated for other illnesses, including malaria and pneumonia, when he sought care in his hometown, the statement said.
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Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks, including one in 2000 that killed hundreds.
This is the first time someone has died of the virus in the country since 2019.
In July, two people died after testing positive for an Ebola-like bug known as Marburg virus.
What are the symptoms of Ebola?
The virus has an incubation period of two to 21 days, meaning symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear from the time of infection.
Early symptoms of Ebola include:
- fever
- headache
- muscle pain
- sore throat
- weakness
They are similar to those of other diseases, making diagnosis tricky in some cases.
Later, as the disease progresses, it can cause:
The Ebola virus disease - previously called Ebola haemorrhagic fever - is a viral infection that occurs in humans and primates.
It causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal when left untreated.
The virus begins with symptoms including fever, intense fatigue, muscle pain and a sore throat, before progressing to vomiting and diarrhoea as well as internal and external bleeding.
The virus is part of the Filoviridae family, which also includes the Marburg virus.
It was first detected in regions close to the River Ebola, which gave the disease its name.
How is Ebola treated?
There is currently no available medication to prevent or treat Ebola, although a range of experimental drugs are in development.
People who have the infection are treated in isolation in intensive care.
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How is Ebola caught?
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Ebola is very contagious and spreads through contact with the blood, body fluids or organs of a person or animal with the infection.
Ebola cannot be caught through routine social contact such as shaking hands with people who do not have symptoms.