Uganda free from Ebola: ministry

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

KAMPALA (AFP) — Uganda said on Wednesday that the country was free of the Ebola virus, which has killed 37 people since September when the virulent strain first appeared in the impoverished east African nation.

Health Minister Stephen Mallinga said it was the 42nd day since the last patient was discharged after the disease, obscured by ailments with near-similar symptoms, emerged mainly in western Uganda killing 37 out of 149 confirmed cases.

"There has been no further transmission of the virus since the 8th of January 2008," Mallinga told a press conference here.

Mallinga said that Uganda's fight against Ebola was difficult since it was confirmed as a new kind of strain with far different characteristics than the previously known strain that hit the country...