Ebola confined to Gulu

As the death toll crept up in the ebola fever epidemic in northern Uganda, health officials confirmed the disease was confined to the Gulu area and had not spread as originally feared. Information officer for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Uganda, Benjamin Sensafi, told IRIN on Thursday that 111 cases had now been reported, with 41 deaths - up from the 39 deaths registered on Wednesday. He said 17 new cases had been identified as of 0800 [local time] on Thursday. Suspected cases in neighbouring Kitgum district turned out to be dysentery, he said. Sensafi added it was expected the situation would be brought under control in the next few days and said there was no problem with the provision of medical care and personnel. He denied reports that activities by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) were keeping medical staff away, stressing that the government was providing enough security. “No rebel incidents have been reported,” he said. This is the first time Uganda has been hit by the killer disease for which there is no known cure. Victims die an agonising death from internal and external bleeding, after initial flu-like symptoms. Consequently, Uganda’s neighbours are taking preventive measures to prevent its spread into their territories. The Kenyan authorities are screening arrivals at the border between the two countries, a move criticised by Ugandan government officials who claim visitors are being “harassed” at the border, according to a report in the Kenyan ‘East African Standard’. In Tanzania, the health ministry and WHO have set up a committee of health experts which will closely monitor border areas for people displaying ebola-type symptoms. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have reportedly agreed to exchange information on the disease.