Until danger of another outbreak is passed, Ishaka Hospital staff will remain on high alert, says Handysides. He says that it usually takes a number of weeks for the situation to be contained. When no new cases are reported for a period of time, local health authorities will declare the outbreak over. In the meantime, a nurse from Ishaka Hospital has been sent to another, larger hospital for training in proper isolation and treatment procedures for Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The Ebola virus was named after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it was first discovered in 1976.
Scientists believe that between outbreaks the virus is carried in animals, perhaps monkeys.
Previous outbreaks of the disease have occurred in the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, and the Ivory Coast. Dr. Allan Handysides speaks to Adventist News Network about the Uganda Ebola outbreak. Photos are available to accompany this story. To download higher resolution photos follow the link at the end of the online article. Copyright 2001 Adventist News Network .