NIH issues Ebola alert, asks authorities to stay vigilant

Islamabad : The National Institute of Health has asked the authorities to be alert for possible Ebola cases, as African country Uganda reported an outbreak of the rare and deadly disease affecting humans and other primates.
According to the NIH, Uganda, where Ebola Virus Disease had claimed 224 lives in 2000, 37 in 2007, one in 2011, 21 in 2012 and four in 2019, recorded 23 deaths in Madudu and Kiruma sub-counties of Mubende district during the first two weeks of September.
Of the deaths, five were among confirmed Ebola cases and 18 among probable ones. In an advisory, the institute said EVD in humans was caused by four of six viruses of the genus Ebolavirus, including Bundibugyo Virus (BDBV), Sudan Virus (SUDV), Tai Forest Virus (TAFV) and Ebola Virus (EBOV, formerly Zaire Ebola virus), and the current Ebola outbreaks was caused by SUDV.
“At regional and global levels, the overall risk has been assessed as low. The World Health Organisation advises countries against any restrictions on travel and/or trade to Uganda based on available information for the current outbreak,” it said.-Agencies