Uganda: Ebola virus outbreak kills 14 people

On July 30, the Ugandan government advised people to avoid shaking hands and other physical contact after the first death in the capital Kampala from Ebola virus infection.

In a televised address to the nation, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said 14 patients have died since the Ebola virus outbreak in western Uganda three weeks ago.

Mr. Museveni called on people to avoid direct contact such as shaking hands to avoid spreading this virus.

Ebola virus. (Source: Guardian)

Uganda's Ministry of Health confirmed the latest death was a health worker at Mulago Hospital in Campala. Seven doctors and 13 health workers at the hospital are currently in quarantine due to contact with the patient.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Ebola is one of the most dangerous viruses ever discovered in humans. People infected with the virus have symptoms such as high fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.

In some cases, people may experience organ failure and bleeding. Ebola virus spreads through contact with blood, body fluids, or body parts of infected people.

The incubation period from infection with the virus to the appearance of the first symptoms is from 2 to 21 days, depending on the case.

Scientists have discovered five strains of Ebola virus, three of which have a mortality rate of 25-90%.

Currently, there is no medicine or vaccine in the world to treat this deadly virus.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976 and named after a river in the country. Since then, about 1,850 people have been diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever caused by the virus, and 1,200 of them have died.

In 2007, the Ebola virus killed 37 people in western Uganda, and previously killed about 170 people in the north of the country in 2000./.

According to VNA -NT