Deadly ebola outbreak spreading in Uganda

An outbreak of the deadly ebola virus is reportedly spreading in Uganda, with 16 people killed and a total of 51 infected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the situation, in the west of the African country near its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, represents a new strain of the disease.

It was first reported on November 10th, AHN stated, and is the fifth strain of the potentially fatal hemorrhagic fever to be identified in recent years.

"We do not yet know yet exactly the lethality of this virus because we haven't tested all the samples," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl told a news briefing, Reuters reported.

"But, obviously, anytime we're looking at ebola and a new strain of ebola, this presents a new challenge. So we're very concerned," he added.

Ebola has so far caused 1,200 deaths worldwide, according to WHO figures, with a previous outbreak in Uganda killing 170 people in 2000.

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