Kampala, Aug 19 (IANS): Ugandan health officials placed a female Nigerian passenger with Ebola virus disease-like symptoms in an isolation unit at the country's Entebbe International Airport.

"The passenger was stopped Monday as she arrived at the airport. She was showing signs of fever like Ebola. We are waiting for the test results from the research institute for confirmation," Xinhua quoted an official as saying.

"We have put all the necessary precautions in place to handle all the suspected cases and any confirmations," the official said.

This is the second passenger to be put in an isolation unit and tested for Ebola in the East African country following the current outbreak of the disease in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The deadly Ebola virus disease has killed at least 1,145 people and infected hundreds since its outbreak in the three West African countries, according to the World Health Organisation. The disease has since spread to Nigeria.

Uganda's neighbouring country, Kenya, Saturday banned travellers from the Ebola-hit West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Uganda has suffered Ebola outbreaks in the past, and similar viral haemorrhagic fevers like Marbug, Crimean Congo and Yellow Fever.

Ebola is a highly infectious disease spread through body contact with an infected person. Its symptoms are high fever, bleeding, diarrhoea and red eyes among others.