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Ebola has been detected in Uganda. The U.S. CDC notes, “this outbreak has been linked to the Sudan ebolavirus. No vaccines or therapeutics have been approved for prevention or treatment of the Sudan ebolavirus.”
As of 30 October 2022, according to the Ministry of Health, there have been 129 cases of Ebola Virus Disease detected across seven districts of Uganda. The number of deaths in Uganda due to Ebola is 37, with the number of recovered patients at 43. These numbers include 17 healthcare workers who have become infected, six of whom have died.
The epicenter of the Ebola outbreak, according to the Ministry of Health is in the Kassanda district, with clusters of cases in Kampala (capitol).
EBOLA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The Ministry of Health, together with the World Health Organization’s Uganda office have published situation reports, the most recent being “Situation Report #38, Data up-to-date as of 2200hrs, 29 October 2022.” The above information aligns with this SitRep, which highlights that 1,656 contacts are being followed-up across the nation, with a success rate of 88 percent.
Readers of Securely Travel will remember it was just over three years ago when we were writing of the spread of Ebola and how it had jumped the land borders of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC) and was expected (and indeed did) spread to Tanzania and Uganda. At that time steps to mitigate the spread were moderately successful.
MITIGATION
The Uganda government appears to have taken the lessons of 2018 to heart and have implemented a number of steps to try to mitigate against the spread of Ebola, both domestically, as well as internationally - see STIREP 38 report. Some of the most salient steps are, the implementation of IPC Rings (infection prevention control) for various districts and providing adequate IPC toolkits to both public and private health facilities. Enhanced messaging to the community, via both radio and television. And the one which may impact travelers the most is the screening of departing international passengers for Ebola.
SCREENING
The United States has designated five airports for Ebola screening of passengers/crew which have recently visited Uganda. New York-John F. Kennedy, Newark, Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare or Washington Dulles have all been designated, screening airports. The United States is not the only country conducting screenings of arrivals from Uganda.
The U.S. CDC has issued a report on Ebola in Uganda - read report here. The CDC urges all travelers to “practice enhanced precautions” if one’s journey includes Uganda.
New Zealand has also issued a report for travelers with respect to the Ebola outbreak - read report here. The most salient point, “practices strict standards of hygiene.”
