Uganda begins vaccinating against Ebola despite transmission fears related to Congo :: Kenya

Uganda announced that it would start vaccinating some of its health workers against Ebola on Monday, fearing that viral haemorrhagic fever will spread from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is fighting an epidemic

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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 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 in both directions 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.

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On August 1, the Congo declared the Ebola outbreak and at least 139 deaths.

Because of the short distance between outbreaks in Congo, Uganda is on the alert, with increased screening of arriving travelers and training of health personnel in border areas.

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

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

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