Uganda declares end of Ebola outbreak

Ugandan health officials are declaring the country free of an Ebola outbreak blamed for 17 deaths since late July.

The last patient with a confirmed infection was released on August 24, the World Health Organization said in a statement.

"WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be applied to Uganda with respect to this event," it said.

The outbreak's initial confirmation at a hospital in the western town of Kagadi sent patients fleeing and the facility scrambling to contact those who may have had the disease.

In a separate incident, a convict brought to the hospital on suspicion of an infection escaped.

Less than a third of the outbreak's "24 probable and confirmed cases" survived, according to the WHO. More than 350 people were isolated for testing on suspicion of having the disease.

Ebola is caused by a highly infectious virus that spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, a measles-like rash, red eyes and, at times, bleeding from body openings.