Uganda Article Index : Current 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Geography
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics

November 30, 2000

Uganda reports that its Ebola death total is now 149. New cases are reported in southwestern Uganda. This is a new strain has people worried, because it is much less lethal than earlier ones (as many as 40 percent of the victims survive) and takes much longer (up to three weeks) to finish with those infected. The original strain of Ebola operated much faster, killing over 90 percent of its victims within a few days. The new strain allows victims to travel farther before falling sick, and spreading the virus. If Ebola mutates again, to a form that kills only a third of its victims but incubates for a month or more, it could quickly depopulate Africa. This type of mutation, from very to less lethal, is common with diseases.