Uganda confirms 2 new Ebola cases among health workers

The Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has grown to 1,018 suspected and confirmed cases, with Uganda reporting two new infections among health workers in the capital, according to health officials. At least 234 deaths have been reported across the two countries.

The latest figures were released on Monday, one day after the outbreak passed 1,000 suspected and confirmed cases across the two countries.

In Congo, health officials said the number of confirmed cases has risen to 105, while suspected cases have increased to 906. The figures bring Congo’s total to 1,011 suspected and confirmed cases.

Congo has reported 233 deaths, including 10 confirmed deaths and 223 suspected deaths. The outbreak has now been reported in 13 health zones across three provinces.

Uganda’s Ministry of Health confirmed two new cases, bringing the country’s total to seven confirmed cases, including one death.

The two new cases are Ugandan health workers at a private health facility in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Both patients have been admitted to a designated treatment unit and are receiving care, the ministry said.

“All contacts linked to the confirmed cases are being listed for follow up by response teams,” the ministry added.

Uganda had previously confirmed its first cases of transmission inside the country linked to earlier cases imported from Congo.

The outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, a species of Ebola virus for which there are no approved vaccines or therapeutics. The virus can spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people or those who have died from the disease.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared a public health emergency of international concern earlier this month. WHO has assessed the risk as high to very high at the national and regional levels and low globally.