Uganda has begun a trial vaccination programme for the strain of Ebola viral infection that is behind Sudan's latest outbreak, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), while the number of confirmed cases has risen to three.

Ugandan officials are preparing to deploy a trial vaccine as part of efforts to stem an outbreak of Ebola in the capital, Kampala

Test results on the sick people are pending, and a top WHO official said the outbreak response is proceeding rapidly.

Uganda has confirmed an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the capital Kampala with the first confirmed patient dying from it on Wednesday, the health ministry said on Thursday. It is the East African country's ninth outbreak since it recorded its first infection of the viral disease in 2000.

After the first Ebola death in Uganda in years, a senior health official says authorities in the African nation are "in full control of the situation."

This is a critical achievement toward better pandemic preparedness and saving lives when outbreaks occur,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Health officials worry the unusual strain will spread in crowded Kampala after the death of a male nurse.