Ebola kills 4th health worker in Uganda
Official virus tally now at 43 cases, 10 deaths, scores more suspected cases, fatalities yet to be confirmed
KAMPALA, Uganda
The ongoing Ebola virus outbreak in Uganda has claimed the life of another health worker, officials said on Wednesday.
Nabisubi Margaret, a 58-year-old anesthetic officer, died in hospital “after battling the disease for 17 days,” according to Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng.
She is the fourth health worker killed by Ebola since the country declared its latest outbreak on Sept. 20.
Dozens more medical personnel remain in quarantine after coming into contact with suspected Ebola patients.
The Health Ministry has confirmed 43 cases and 10 deaths in Uganda since the first fatality was reported late last month.
Scores of other suspected cases and fatalities have yet to be confirmed.
The outbreak has been caused by the virus’ relatively rare Sudan strain, which has no approved vaccine or drug treatment.
It started in Mubende, a district in central Uganda, and has since spread to four more districts: Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi, and Bunyangabu.
This is the East African country’s fourth Ebola outbreak, with the deadliest being one in 2000 that killed more than 200 people.
According to the World Health Organization, the Sudan strain has been found in Uganda for the first time in more than a decade. The last outbreak in 2019 was caused by the Zaire strain of the virus.
