2 dead in Uganda as Ebola spreads beyond the Congo

Anne-Marie Kommers -

The grandmother of a 5-year-old boy who died of Ebola June 12 has also died, marking Uganda's second death as the disease spreads beyond the Congo, according to ABC News.

Ugandan health ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Ainebyoona confirmed the death June 13. The first victim's 3-year-old brother is also infected, and several family members are displaying symptoms. The family has been repatriated to the Congo for monitoring and treatment, where over 1,400 people have already died in the current outbreak.

The family visited the Congo to see the boy's grandfather, who was ill and later died of Ebola, according to the World Health Organization. Authorities are tracing about 50 contacts of the family in Uganda. Both countries are tightening border security.

The WHO will meet on Friday to decide whether it should declare a global health emergency. The organization is also shipping another 3,500 Ebola vaccines to Uganda, where nearly 4,700 health workers have already been vaccinated.

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