Uganda confirms new Ebola case linked to Congolese national

Uganda has registered a new Ebola case, nearly three weeks after the last confirmed infection. This brings the total number of cases in the country to twenty. Health officials state the case is linked to a Congolese national.

The Ministry of Health has described the outbreak as under control, emphasizing that no local community transmission has occurred within Uganda. However, surveillance efforts continue. Dr. Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, confirmed that four people are currently admitted, and nine contacts are under follow-up. A significant number of people, 817, have completed their 21-day follow-up and have been cleared.

Despite the low numbers and imported nature of most cases in Uganda, the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo has recorded over 1,000 confirmed cases. The Africa CDC reports 81 recoveries and 254 confirmed deaths in the DRC, with over 6,500 contacts listed. Uganda has experienced two deaths related to the Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

“

Though the outbreak has been described as under control by the Ministry of Health, Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services, said they have continued to monitor further spread of the disease and so far, no case has been picked locally from the community in Uganda.