KAMPALA, Uganda -                       A suspected 8-year-old Ebola victim, who had been admitted to Kitovu Missionary Hospital in Masaka, Uganda, has died, the district health official has confirmed.

The deceased Shanitah Nambajjo, a Primary One Pupil at Good Hope Primary School in Kyotera District was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday after developing symptoms similar to those of Ebola. Her death has caused panic among medics and residents in the area.

“It is true a patient who had been taken to Kitovu Hospital as an alert case of Ebola has died. Blood samples were taken from her and we are waiting for results from Uganda Virus Research Institute-UVRI in Entebbe,” Dr Edward Muwanga, the Kyotera District Health Officer, said on Thursday.

He said the district health team has since visited the school, and home of the deceased to take necessary precautions.

“What we have found out is that, the deceased has been often sick and her right arm was paralyzed. She developed a fever at school and was diagnosed with Malaria in a clinic.

“Treatment was given to her, but no improvement was realised, she later lost consciousness before being transferred to Bikira Health Centre III,” Dr Muwanga said.

He added that when the girl’s situation worsened and she started bleeding from mouth and nose, she was referred to Kitovu Hospital from where she died on Thursday.