As neighboring DR Congo faces a new Ebola outbreak, Uganda’s Ministry of Health has confirmed that effective measures are in place to block cross-border transmission of the deadly virus.
The new outbreak, which has so far killed 15 people, was reported in mid-August in Kasai Province, located about 2000 kilometers from Kampala by road. Uganda and DR Congo have cross-border trade activities, which increase the risk of cross-border spread.
Dr Charles Olaro, the Director General of Health Services at the health ministry, in an interview with our reporter on Monday, said Uganda has all it takes to prevent the disease from attacking its citizens.
DR Congo’s last outbreak of Ebola virus disease affected the north-western Equateur province in April 2022. In Kasai province, previous outbreaks of Ebola virus disease were reported in 2007 and 2008. In the country overall, there have been 15 outbreaks, and this new one is the 16th.
Dr Allan Muruta, the commissioner in charge of Epidemiology Surveillance and Public Health Emergencies at the Health Ministry, said they are monitoring individuals who come in and go out of the country through their movements so as to find out any signs of the disease.
