Three people have died so far in Uganda from an outbreak of the Ebola virus - the latest bout of the deadly haemorrhagic fever to strike the East African nation in recent months.

The new outbreak comes about a month after Uganda declared itself free from Ebola, which last struck in July claiming 16 lives.

Last month, authorities also reported an outbreak of Marburg, a deadly viral disease related to Ebola, which killed three people as well.

The country's worst Ebola epedemic was in 2000, when 425 people were infected and more than half of them died.

Ebola and Marburg are both highly infectious, spread mostly through contact with body fluids, and are often fatal.

Symptoms include severe bleeding, diarrhea and vomiting.

While there is no cure for the diseases, some patients do survive with treatment.