Boy dies of Ebola in Uganda in first cross-border case from Congo

Boy dies of Ebola in Uganda in first cross-border case from Congo

A five year-old boy has died of Ebola in Uganda, a health official said on Wednesday, in the first case of the disease crossing the border from the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The boy died overnight, the official told Reuters, after entering Uganda from Congo with his family.

His mother had returned to Congo to nurse her father, who died of the disease, the health minister said on Tuesday.

The official asked not to be named.

The affected child had entered Uganda on June 9 through Bwera Border post.

His family sought medical care at Kagando hospital and the child was transferred to Bwera Ebola Treatment Unit for management, the WHO said.

“The confirmation was made today by the Uganda Virus Institute (UVRI) …contacts are being monitored,” WHO said.

All the other Congolese family members are in isolation at Bwera Hospital.

Two of them have already developed symptoms similar to those of Ebola and samples have been removed from them, Aceng said.

Results of tests are expected Wednesday. Eight more contacts are being followed up, Aceng said.

Aceng said the family entered Uganda on June 10, not 9.

The reason for the discrepancy was not immediately clear and neither the WHO nor the government was reachable for clarification.

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