Ugandan health authorities have heightened surveillance and border screening measures following confirmation of an Ebola case in Kenya. The Kenyan national, who died from Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease, had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through Kampala before entering Kenya. According to Uganda's Ministry of Health, the country remains safe but is maintaining elevated response measures.
The Kenyan patient, who had been living in the DRC for seven years, developed complications associated with Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease and died on Monday. Kenyan health authorities reported that the patient presented with symptoms including fever, chills, and muscle pain after travelling from the DRC to Kampala by road and then boarding a flight to Nairobi.
Laboratory tests conducted by Kenya's National Virology Reference Laboratory confirmed Ebola Bundibugyo virus infection. The case has raised concerns in Uganda due to the patient's travel through Kampala, a city that has previously recorded Ebola cases linked to cross-border movement from the DRC.
Allan Ssempebwa, Senior Public Relations Officer at Uganda's Ministry of Health, stated that there was no immediate cause for alarm and that health teams were implementing border protection measures. He added that authorities would provide further information if investigations established any additional risk to the country.
Uganda has maintained stringent measures at its border with the DRC, restricting movement to authorised humanitarian, health, cargo, and security operations. Travellers from the DRC are subjected to screening and a mandatory 21-day self-quarantine. It is unclear whether the deceased had undergone Uganda's mandatory screening after entering the country from the DRC.
Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and health workers, and are tracing 23 passengers and crew members who travelled on the same flight as the deceased from Kampala to Nairobi. Meanwhile, Ugandan health officials have not confirmed whether any contacts linked to the latest Kenyan case have been identified in Uganda.
The DRC continues to manage Ebola cases, with 8,442 confirmed cases and 4,080 deaths attributed to complications of the disease. Ugandan health authorities are continuing surveillance at points of entry to detect any suspected case early and prevent further transmission should the virus cross into the country.
Key points
- Uganda boosts surveillance and border screening measures following confirmation of an Ebola case in Kenya
- The Kenyan patient travelled from the DRC through Kampala before entering Kenya
- The DRC continues to manage Ebola cases, with 8,442 confirmed cases and 4,080 deaths
