19 cases of Ebola fever reported in Sudan

May 24, 2004 (CIDRAP News) – Nineteen cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, with four deaths, have been reported in southern Sudan, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today.

The Kenya Medical Research Institute and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Ebola virus as the cause of the cases, the WHO said.

The outbreak is in Yambio County of Western Equatoria province, the agency said. Cases appear to be restricted to Yambio, but neighboring countries have been notified. The WHO said it was not recommending any special restrictions on travel or trade as a result of the outbreak.

Members of a WHO early warning network in the area and a team from WHO headquarters have been working with health authorities in Yambio County to set up a crisis committee to contain the outbreak, officials said. The committee is supporting case management in Yambio hospital and organizing the follow-up of contacts of case-patients.

See also:

May 24 WHO statement
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2004_05_24/en/