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WHO chief visits Uganda, praises Ebola containment efforts

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Director-General of the World Health Organization visited Uganda and praised its efforts in containing an Ebola outbreak.
  • Uganda has registered 19 cases and two deaths, with WHO support for training healthcare workers and emphasizing cross-border collaboration.
  • The WHO chief highlighted Uganda's decision to cancel public celebrations as a crucial measure to prevent rapid spread, noting that restrictions can hinder economies.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) visited Uganda on Monday, commending the nation's response to an Ebola outbreak that originated in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The WHO has declared an international health emergency due to the outbreak, which has resulted in 515 confirmed infections and 91 deaths in the DRC since its emergence on May 15. Uganda has recorded 19 cases and two fatalities, with most cases involving Congolese nationals who crossed the border.

The success rate in managing Ebola in Uganda has been good.

— Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Uganda's handling of the Ebola outbreak.

"The success rate in managing Ebola in Uganda has been good," stated WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a visit to the Mulago National Referral Hospital in the capital, Kampala. He noted that thanks to experience gained in managing public health emergencies, the fatality rate in Uganda is below 1%. The WHO has supported the training of 148 healthcare workers for the Ebola response.

It was the right decision because Ebola spreads rapidly in these kinds of gatherings. We are now counting 19 cases, and if the Martyrs' Day celebration had taken place, we would now be talking about three figures.

— Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus explained the importance of canceling public celebrations to curb Ebola spread.

Ghebreyesus specifically commended the Ugandan government's decision to cancel annual Martyrs' Day celebrations, an event that typically draws large crowds from across the region. "It was the right decision because Ebola spreads rapidly in these kinds of gatherings. We are now counting 19 cases, and if the Martyrs' Day celebration had taken place, we would now be talking about three figures," he said.

During a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, the WHO Director-General discussed "cross-border collaboration." He also advised against unnecessary restrictions, stating, "There is no need for restrictions, as they affect the economy. Restrictions do not really help... The solution is to address the epicenter." The WHO chief had recently visited the DRC, which is experiencing its 17th Ebola outbreak. No specific vaccine or treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the current outbreak. Ebola, transmitted through close contact and bodily fluids, has caused over 15,000 deaths in Africa over the past 50 years.

There is no need for restrictions, as they affect the economy. Restrictions do not really help... The solution is to address the epicenter.

— Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusWHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus advised against economic restrictions and emphasized addressing the outbreak's origin.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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