Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Uganda
Updated: January 18, 2001
Health Canada is closely monitoring an outbreak of Ebola
haemorrhagic fever in the Districts of Gulu, Mbarara and Masindi of Uganda.
The centre of the current outbreak is the Gulu District (population of 399,000)
in northern Uganda, approximately 300 km due north of Kampala, the national
capital. The Mbarara District (population 1,066,000) is in southwestern Uganda,
bordering the Republic of Tanzania. Mbarara's administrative headquarters
is 240 km from Kampala. Masindi District (population 357,700) borders Gulu
to the southwest and is 217 km northwest of Kampala.
As of January 16, the Ugandan Ministry of Health has reported 396 cases
of Ebola haemorrhagic fever, including 150 deaths, in Gulu District. Cases
of Ebola were first reported in a local hospital in Gulu Town, the administrative
headquarters of Gulu District.
As of January 16, 27 cases of Ebola with 19 deaths have been reported in Masindi
District. In Mbarara District, 5 cases with 4 deaths have been reported.
This is the first time that Ebola has been reported in Uganda. First recognized
in 1976 in Sudan and Zaire, Ebola haemorrhagic fever has recently occurred
in Zaire in 1995 and Gabon in 1996 and 1997.
WHO has confirmed that the particular strain of Ebola now occurring in Uganda
is similar, but not identical to the Ebola-Sudan strain seen in southern Sudan
in 1976 and 1979. This outbreak is remarkable for its relatively low case-fatality
rate of approximately 40%. In past Ebola outbreaks, case-fatality rates have
exceeded 50% and higher (up to 90%).
Sources: Ministry of Health, Government of Uganda; World Health Organization
Recommendation
With respect to the current outbreak in Uganda, unless travellers are in
the Gulu, Mbarara or Masindi Districts, and are caring for an ill individual
infected with the Ebola virus, Health Canada advises that the risk of acquiring
Ebola haemorrhagic fever is very low.
For more information, visit our disease
information page on Ebola haemorrhagic fever at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/info/ebola_e.html.
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