Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The health ministry of Uganda has reported a surge in confirmed Ebola cases, from three to nine, in the outbreak declared late last month. The current outbreak is attributed to the Sudan strain of the virus, which lacks an approved vaccine.
One of the nine confirmed cases has resulted in death, while seven patients are receiving treatment in a hospital in Kampala, and one is hospitalized in Mbale, close to the Kenyan border. All eight patients are reported to be in stable condition.
The World Health Organization has announced that Uganda has initiated a trial vaccination program targeting the Sudan strain of Ebola.
Currently, available vaccines are designed for the Zaire strain, which has caused recent outbreaks in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Meanwhile, 265 individuals who had contact with the confirmed cases are under quarantine.
