Ebola death toll still rising

The death toll from the ebola fever outbreak
in Gulu, northern Uganda, continues to rise, with figures issued by the
Ugandan health ministry on Tuesday standing at 60 out of 165 cases.
, The death toll from the ebola fever outbreak
in Gulu, northern Uganda, continues to rise, with figures issued by the
Ugandan health ministry on Tuesday standing at 60 out of 165 cases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the increase in cases reflected
transmission of the disease some eight to 10 days earlier. Case finding
was still underway in Gulu district, it added in a statement.

"As the incubation period is two to 21 days, monitoring of the disease for
new cases is more accurate when carried out over time, rather than day by
day," WHO said. "Since ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreaks usually
originate from a single source, cases tend to come in waves: exposure
through direct contact, incubation period and then illness."

An additional 1,370 kg of protective equipment arrived in Gulu on Monday
and WHO stated this was enough to meet the needs of the initial phase of
the response. Ireland has pledged US $80,000 in assistance to Ugandan
President Yoweri Museveni who is currently visiting the country.

Reporters and aid workers, who recently visited Gulu, described "life
continuing much as normal". The town was bustling with shoppers and
traders. "It would be difficult to know there's a problem except for the
occasional glimpse of a health worker wearing a mask," one journalist
pointed out.

He added that the response by local health officials was "quick and
comprehensive" and local youth groups had been swift in offering help.

Meanwhile, more neighbouring countries have taken steps in a bid to
prevent the disease spreading to their territories. The Sudanese health
ministry announced that planes arriving in Khartoum from affected areas
were being sprayed and various border points had been disinfected. In the
DRC, the authorities in northeastern areas most at risk of the spread of
ebola had taken precautionary health measures in conjunction with WHO, and
had reinforced border security, humanitarian sources told IRIN. Kenya is
still screening travellers at the border.