sharon sanders
Editor-in-Chief & President
Source: Xinhua News Agency
Date: 25 Feb 2008
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<!--firstLine--> Ugandan health experts warn of mutating Ebola virus
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KAMPALA, Feb 25, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Experts in Uganda's Health Ministry revealed that studies of the recent Ebola outbreak in the country showed that the deadly Ebola virus was mutating and acquiring a longer latent period.
Monica Musenero, a senior epidemiologist told reporters here on Monday, while assessing the impact of the recent outbreak, that laboratory tests showed there were some cases that had acquired the virus but did not sicken the infected.
"When we tested some of the people, they were healthy. There was evidence that they had been exposed to the Ebola virus but they have never been sick," she said flanked by Sam Okware, the chairman national force for Ebola.
The virulent disease, which was confirmed in November last year but reported to have broken out in August, killed 37 people out of 149 cumulative infections in the western district of Bundibugyo, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The ministry last week declared the country Ebola free following the completion of 42 days, two maximum incubation cycles, with no new infection being reported.
Okware said that because of the mutation of the virus, it was difficult to detect it and therefore the disease could easily spread.
"From what I see, it appears that Ebola is trying to adapt itself better than ever before," he said, adding that more studies are being carried out to find out whether the recent outbreak was a new strain or a mutation of other known strains.
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. had said that this outbreak was caused by a new strain of Ebola virus.
Musenero, who called for more research, said the virus may change and cause a chronic disease or a severe disease but it may not reach the extent of HIV.
This was the second time the virus struck the country after it killed 224 people from 2000 to 2001.
The fatality rate of the outbreak this time was much lower than other four strains which usually kill over half or even 90 percent of the infected and therefore limiting the rate of transmission.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SHES-7C6NWL?OpenDocument
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Date: 25 Feb 2008
<!--toolbar-->
<!--firstLine--> Ugandan health experts warn of mutating Ebola virus
<!--docTitle--><!--Attention ligne utilisée pour l'impression--> <!--Attention ligne utilisée pour l'impression-->
KAMPALA, Feb 25, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Experts in Uganda's Health Ministry revealed that studies of the recent Ebola outbreak in the country showed that the deadly Ebola virus was mutating and acquiring a longer latent period.
Monica Musenero, a senior epidemiologist told reporters here on Monday, while assessing the impact of the recent outbreak, that laboratory tests showed there were some cases that had acquired the virus but did not sicken the infected.
"When we tested some of the people, they were healthy. There was evidence that they had been exposed to the Ebola virus but they have never been sick," she said flanked by Sam Okware, the chairman national force for Ebola.
The virulent disease, which was confirmed in November last year but reported to have broken out in August, killed 37 people out of 149 cumulative infections in the western district of Bundibugyo, the epicenter of the outbreak.
The ministry last week declared the country Ebola free following the completion of 42 days, two maximum incubation cycles, with no new infection being reported.
Okware said that because of the mutation of the virus, it was difficult to detect it and therefore the disease could easily spread.
"From what I see, it appears that Ebola is trying to adapt itself better than ever before," he said, adding that more studies are being carried out to find out whether the recent outbreak was a new strain or a mutation of other known strains.
The World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S. had said that this outbreak was caused by a new strain of Ebola virus.
Musenero, who called for more research, said the virus may change and cause a chronic disease or a severe disease but it may not reach the extent of HIV.
This was the second time the virus struck the country after it killed 224 people from 2000 to 2001.
The fatality rate of the outbreak this time was much lower than other four strains which usually kill over half or even 90 percent of the infected and therefore limiting the rate of transmission.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/SHES-7C6NWL?OpenDocument
<!--body--><!--Attention ligne utilisée pour l'impression-->
<!--docHighlight-->