Fatal Links to Ebola Uganda Super Spreader Increase
Recombinomics Commentary
December 9, 2007
The Ebola death toll climbed to 25 after three people succumbed to the deadly virus on Friday evening. Two patients died in Bundibugyo Hospital, while a third one exhibiting symptoms of Ebola passed away in Kabarole Hospital in Fort Portal.
Medical workers in Bundibugyo said one of the victims was Enock Bwambale, brother to Jeremiah Muhindo, the very first person to die of the disease in the hospital. The other was an old woman.
The patient who died in Kabarole Hospital was admitted during the night, but died in the morning before he could be transferred to the isolation centre in Kichwamba.
The above comments detail Ebola fatalities on Friday. Once again there is a link to Jeremiah Muhindo, who died on November 24. Jonah Kule had adjusted Jeremiah Muhindo’s oxygen mask on November 23 and developed symptoms five days later. Jonah Kule and four other health care workers died over a 24 hour period around December 4 and several contacts of Jeremiah Muhindo were hospitalized. One of those contacts also died December 4.
The death of Jeremiah Muhindo’s brother increases the number of fatal cases linked to this index case. Initial sequence data on the Ebola species in Uganda indicated it was distinct from earlier strains. The bust of fatal cases liked to the above index case raises questions about additional genetic changes or the presence of co-infections in the infectious case.
More sequence information on Ebola from this cluster would be useful.
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