Uganda records three new Ebola cases, total now five

Uganda's Ministry of Health confirmed three new cases of Ebola virus disease on Saturday, raising the nation's total to five. The newly identified cases include a Ugandan driver who transported the first confirmed case and has since died, a healthcare worker who treated him, and a Congolese woman who traveled from Arua to Entebbe before returning to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Authorities in Uganda are contesting the World Health Organization's decision to group the country with the DRC, which has reported dozens of cases and deaths. Previously, Uganda had stated it had no positive cases, as the sole imported case had tested negative. However, samples from the Congolese woman tested positive after she had left Uganda.

The United States has issued a Level 4 travel advisory, urging Americans not to travel to Uganda, the DRC, or South Sudan due to the ongoing Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak. The advisory for Rwanda is Level 3, recommending reconsideration of travel. The Bundibugyo strain has no approved vaccines or specific therapeutics, with treatment focusing on supportive care. The fatality rate for this strain is estimated at 40 percent.

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The Department’s Travel Advisories for DRC, South Sudan, and Uganda are now Level 4 – Do Not Travel, and the Travel Advisory for Rwanda is Level 3 – Reconsider Travel.