Uganda begins to vaccinate against Ebola virus while Congo fears to be transmitted

KAMPALA (Reuters) – Uganda announced Monday that it will begin vaccinating some of its health workers against Ebola, fearing that viral haemorrhagic fever will spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who is fighting an epidemic.

Over the years, this country in East Africa has been regularly affected by epidemics of Ebola and Marburg, two very fatal viral haemorrhagic fevers.

Part of Uganda's western border is about 100 km (62 miles) from the Ebola outbreak sites in Congo.

Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said the authorities would administer about 2,100 vaccines for front-line health workers working in districts near the border.

Tens of thousands of people cross the border back and forth every week for commercial or family visits, etc., said Aceng.

For this reason, "the risk of cross-border transmission was considered very high … hence the need to protect our health workers with this vaccine," she said at a conference Press.

Congo declared the Ebola outbreak on August 1 and there were at least 139 deaths

Because of the short distance between epidemics in Congo, Uganda is in a high state of alert, with increased selection of travelers and training of health personnel in border areas.

Aceng said widespread insecurity in the provinces of North Kivu and Ituri in eastern Congo increased Uganda's vulnerability to cross-border transmission.

"The security situation in North Kivu and Ituri hampers the effective implementation of response activities," said Aceng.

The worst Ebola outbreak in Uganda was in 2000: 425 people were infected, more than half of whom died.