Deadly Ebola Virus Spreads to Ugandan Capital

By Geetha Pillai in London and Oliver Tree in New York

The deadly Ebola virus has spread to the Ugandan capital Kampala, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said Monday.

So far 14 are confirmed dead, the BBC reported, with the country's President Yoweri Museveni telling people to avoid physical contact with health agencies battle to contain the disease.

Ebola is one of the world's most virulent diseases, with a 90 percent kill rate for those infected.

There is no vaccine.

Though efforts are under way to contain the spread of the virus, which began roughly three weeks ago, the original source of the for the latest outbreak is yet to be known.

The majority of the infected turned out to be linked to one family and they were suspected to have contracted the virus while attending a funeral.

"There are a total of 20 people suspected to have contracted Ebola and 13 of them have died," said Joaquim Saweka, WHO's representative in Uganda.

"A team of experts from the government, WHO and CDC (US Centers for Disease Control) are in the field and following up on all suspected cases and those who got into contact with patients," Saweka said.

Ebola virus causes viral hemorrhagic fever that affects the central nervous system and the circulatory system in human bodies depending on the strain of the virus.

Symptoms include sudden occurrence of fever along with weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, and rashes.

It also impairs the kidneys and the liver and causes both internal and external bleeding. The virus is transmitted by close personal contact and there is no treatment or vaccine.

Uganda has been hit with three Ebola outbreaks in recent years, the worst of which was in 2000 when over half of the 425 people infected died.