Kampala - (AFP) - Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni decided on Saturday to extend for 21 days the isolation measures imposed in two areas that are the epicenter of the spread of the Ebola virus that has killed 55 people in the country, but at the same time he confirmed that his transmission is being limited.

On September 20, the Ugandan authorities announced an outbreak of the virus, which had spread to the capital, Kampala. But health authorities said this week that the number of Ebola cases had decreased.

Mubindi and Kasanda districts, which are at the epicenter of the disease, were placed under 21-day lockdown on October 15. These measures, which include a night curfew, a travel ban, and the closure of markets, bars and churches, were extended on November 5.

President Museveni announced the extension of the procedures for the third time, for a period of 21 days, stressing that the situation "remains fragile."

In a speech to the nation read by his deputy, Jessica Alupo, he said, "If we open now and a casualty appears, we will have destroyed all the gains made in this war."

"Therefore, I call for calm and understanding," he added, stressing that "our health sector workers will continue to do everything to save lives and end the epidemic."

According to WHO standards, the epidemic ends when no infection is recorded within 42 days, twice the incubation period of the Ebola virus.

Health Minister Jane Ruth Assinge told AFP this week that the number of new infections recorded was declining, stressing that there were indications that Uganda was "winning" the battle.

The WHO office in Uganda said Thursday that as of November 22, no infection had been reported for the previous nine days in Kampala, the previous 10 days in Mubindi and the previous 12 days in Kasanda.

According to Ugandan Ministry of Health figures, the epidemic has claimed the lives of 55 people for the 141 who contracted the virus.