WHO investigates suspected cases of small pox in Uganda

London, 25 March-(ANA)-The World Health Organisation said on Thursday it was investigating reports of suspected cases of the previously eradicated disease smallpox in eastern Uganda.

Smallpox is an acute contagious disease and was one of the world's most feared sicknesses until it was officially declared eradicated worldwide in 1979.

"WHO takes any report of smallpox seriously," Gregory Hartl, a spokesman for the Geneva-based United Nations health agency, told Reuters via email.

"WHO is aware of the reports coming out of Uganda and is taking all the necessary measures to investigate and verify."

He added that the WHO had received reports before of smallpox cases, but they had turned out to be false alarms.(ANA)

FA/ANA/25 March 2010--------