Uganda confirms 135 Ebola cases, 53 deaths

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Uganda has reported 135 confirmed and 21 probable cases of Ebola in eight different districts, with 53 confirmed and 21 probable deaths.

So far, 62 patients have recovered, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced on Thursday in a note published on the UN website.

The Ebola virus continues to spread in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, which has been one of the cities most affected by the epidemic for the past two weeks, the WHO said.

"In the past two weeks, the majority of cases have been reported in the capital and Kassanda district," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference on Wednesday.

A case has also been reported in Massaka district in the south of the country.

According to the UN health agency, the detection of cases in several different districts is clearly of concern.

Uganda's health minister on Saturday extended a three-week lockdown of two districts affected by an Ebola outbreak, with a travel ban and closure of public places, in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus.

Last month, President Yoweri Museveni ordered a lockdown in these two districts - Mubende and Kassanda.

He imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew, banned travel and closed markets, bars and churches for 21 days.

WHO said the government's efforts to respond to the epidemic in Mubende district, where the outbreak began, appear to be "bearing fruit".

At the same time, it continues to support the Ugandan government in all dimensions of the response.

This includes setting up and equipping treatment centres, providing generators, training health workers and much more.

To fund the Ebola response in Uganda, WHO is appealing for $88 million to fund its work in supporting the Ugandan government in its fight against the outbreak.

The funds will also help neighbouring countries prepare for any cross-border transmission of the virus.

-0- PANA TNDD/JSG/BBA/MA 11Nov2022