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🇺🇬 Uganda /Health & Science

US Steps Up Ebola Support to Uganda With Delivery of Antibody Treatment

From AllAfrica Uganda · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The United States delivered experimental MBP134 antibody treatment to Uganda for immediate use if a new Ebola case is detected.
  • Uganda has no active cases, but officials cite the ongoing Bundibugyo virus outbreak in neighboring DRC and cross-border movement as continuing risks.
  • A U.S. delegation recently assessed disease surveillance, laboratory capacity and humanitarian response systems along Uganda’s border.

The United States has placed an experimental Ebola antibody treatment in Uganda’s hands even as the country remains free of active cases. The MBP134 vials were handed to the Ministry of Health on Aug. 27 and are available for immediate use if another case is detected.

It is a critical safeguard for Ugandan families.

— Charles AyumeUganda’s Minister of State for Health described the delivered antibody treatment.

Uganda was declared Ebola-free by the WHO that same day. Washington nevertheless pointed to the continuing Bundibugyo virus outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, along with movement and communities living along the border, as reasons to maintain readiness. Dr. Charles Ayume, Uganda’s Minister of State for Health in charge of Primary Health Care, received the treatment and called it a critical safeguard for Ugandan families.

The delivery followed a five-day U.S. delegation visit from July 11 to 15. The group assessed Uganda’s Ebola response, regional health security and humanitarian needs. It traveled from Kampala to border areas, visited Entebbe International Airport to observe traveler screening, and inspected the Vurra point of entry in northwestern Uganda for cross-border disease surveillance.

This visit reinforced the strong U.S.-Uganda health collaboration and our continued support for Uganda’s leadership in responding to the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak.

— Mikael CleverleyThe U.S. Embassy chargé d’affaires described the purpose of the delegation visit.

The delegation also visited the Uganda Virus Research Institute laboratory in Arua, public health emergency operations centers and a U.S.-funded World Food Programme logistics hub. At Imvepi Refugee Settlement, officials met organizations integrating Ebola surveillance with humanitarian and refugee operations. Mikael Cleverley, the U.S. Embassy’s chargé d’affaires, said the visit reinforced health cooperation and praised Uganda’s emergency response and laboratory systems as strong and effective.

Uganda’s emergency response and laboratory systems are strong and effective.

— Mikael CleverleyCleverley praised Uganda’s preparedness and response capacity.
About this summary

Originally published by AllAfrica Uganda in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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