By Spy Uganda
The World Health Organization has sent more resources to help curb the spread of Ebola in Uganda and boost the level of preparedness in neighboring countries.
The global agency approved the release of $5 million, of which $2 million will cater for requirements in Uganda while the rest will go to the other countries.
“We are working with our partners to support the Ministry of Health by sending additional specialists, supplies and resources,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual presentation at a conference on Wednesday.
Since Uganda said it had detected the Sudan virus, one of the pathogens known to cause the Ebola virus disease, on Sept. 20, the government has reported 54 cases and 19 deaths in five districts in the central and western regions.
There is a high risk of the virus spreading to other districts and across the national border because of trade, cultural and social connections, according to the WHO.
Two vaccines are being developed to treat the Ebola-Sudan strain in Uganda, the agency said. Shots that helped curb a recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo are ineffective against this version.
The outbreak is troubling, but it’s not unexpected because of Uganda’s previous experience with Ebola and its proximity to Congo, which has recurring outbreaks, Tedros said.
“WHO and the Ministry of Health have been working together to prepare for an outbreak for some time,” he said.
