Kampala — EIGHT health workers, who survived the deadly Ebola virus in Bundibugyo district, have been rewarded. The primary healthcare state minister, Emmanuel Otaala, gave them certificates of recognition on Wednesday.

This was during the celebrations to mark the elimination of Ebola in the area.

Otaala urged the district leadership to ensure that the three ambulances, which were used during the Ebola outbreak, are put to proper use.

He reassured the families of health workers who died of Ebola that the Government would compensate them.

On February 22, the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health announced that Uganda was free of Ebola, the deadly virus which causes its victims to bleed to death .

The health minister, Dr. Stephen Mallinga, said February 20 marked 42 days since the discharge of the last victim of the viral fever that killed 37 out of the recorded 149 victims.

The 42 days, he added, were two incubation periods of 21 days each, which means the transmission cycle had been broken.

According to the health ministry, the recent epidemic killed fewer people compared to other known Ebola outbreaks. The death rate, according to the ministry, stood at 25%.

The earlier epidemic in northern Uganda in 2000 killed over 50% of the infected, while the outbreaks in Sudan and DR Congo in 1976 claimed over 90% of the victims.

In December last year, the Government released sh5b as emergency funding to contain Ebola.

Meanwhile, a man died of an unknown disease on Sunday and another is admitted in Bundibugyo Hospital. Kasaija, 28, a teacher of Bukangama Primary School in Harugali sub-county complained of joint pains and headache.

He died on the way to Bundibugyo Hospital.

His housemaid, only identified as Bindu, has the same symptoms and is under surveillance at the hospital.

The district Ebola surveillance officer, Enock Bahati, said Bindu and Kasaija's blood samples would be tested for the deadly viral fever in Kampala.