Ebola outbreak in Uganda ends

There have been no new confirmed cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever reported in Uganda since Aug. 3, indicating that the outbreak is coming to an end, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Monday. A total of 24 cases including 17 deaths have been reported since the beginning of the outbreak, of which 11 cases were laboratory confirmed, the WHO said. The last confirmed case was discharged on Aug. 24 following recovery. All contacts of probable and confirmed cases have been followed up daily and have completed the recommended 21 days of monitoring for any possible signs or symptoms of Ebola, according to the WHO. The partners who are involved in the response to the Ebola outbreak are transferring capacity to national and district authorities to sustain the essential functions, including enhanced surveillance and response, psychosocial support and infection prevention and control in health care facilities. Meanwhile, the Ebola isolation facilities in Kibaale District Hospital and at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala remain on stand-by for receiving any suspected cases. WHO added that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not epidemiologically linked with that in Uganda as they have been caused by two different Ebola subtypes.