Researchers in Uganda report that the Ebola virus currently spreading there has mutated. However, according to Uganda Virus Research Institute, Professor Pontiano Kaleebu, there is no proof that this variant is more contagious than the original.
There have been 44 confirmed cases, including 10 deaths. Its genetic makeup resembles that of a virus that caused an outbreak in the same region more than a decade ago, according to researchers monitoring its spread. Unfortunately, at least one life was lost at that time.
Research from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo indicates that more outbreaks are possible, but not after two years have passed since the initial outbreak was proclaimed over. Therefore, researchers think an animal may have spread this disease to people.
There is a critical time crunch as they try to track out the index case or the person who exposed them to the disease.
That would be very helpful for the response teams to figure out what sparked the outbreak.