Uganda has confirmed one case of Ebola in the central Mubende District, high-level government officials briefed on the matter said late Monday.
Senior Ministry of Health staff rushed to Mubende to investigate after unknown number of residents succumbed to what was initially reported as a “strange illness” until Monday’s confirmation.
"Uganda confirms an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Mubende District, Uganda. The confirmed case is a 24 year old male a resident Ngabano village of Madudu Sub County in Mubende District presented with EVD symptoms and later succumbed," the Health ministry said.
Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng was reported to be in New York, and sources said officials first briefed President Museveni.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, which neighbours Uganda to the west, is currently battling an outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease, which causes a deadly haemorrhagic fever.
According to the World Health Organization, the disease is transmitted to people from animals and spreads through human-to-human infection.
Uganda has had at least three previous outbreaks of Ebola, the deadliest being in 2000 that killed hundreds, including the lead treatment officer Dr Matthew Lukwiya.
