Uganda has confirmed three new cases of Ebola, raising the total number of infections in the current outbreak to five, the health ministry announced on Saturday. Authorities are stepping up contact tracing efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
WHO Declares Public Health Emergency
The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain a public health emergency of international concern. The WHO warned that the risk of a national epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo is very high. Nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths have been recorded in Congo, which remains the epicenter of the outbreak.
Challenges in Containing the Virus
The WHO cited late detection, the absence of a vaccine or specific therapeutics, widespread armed violence, and high population mobility as factors making Congo particularly vulnerable. In Uganda, the new cases include a driver who transported the country's first confirmed patient and a health worker exposed while caring for that patient. Both are receiving treatment and were identified among known contacts, the ministry stated.
The third case involves a woman from Congo who entered Uganda with mild abdominal symptoms. She traveled from Arua, near the border, to Entebbe before seeking care at a private hospital in Kampala. After initially improving, she returned to Congo but later tested positive for Ebola following a tip-off from a pilot involved in her transport.
Monitoring and Public Vigilance
All identified contacts linked to the confirmed cases are being closely monitored. The health ministry urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected symptoms promptly.
