Uganda Imposes 21-Day Quarantine on Ebola Virus Returnees
New measures aim to prevent the spread of the deadly virus into the country, which has seen two potential cases pass through its airport.
Uganda has instituted a mandatory 21-day quarantine for its citizens returning from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, as the East African nation strengthens its defenses against the ongoing Ebola virus outbreak. The health ministry announced the new restrictions on Sunday, emphasizing their role in containing the potential spread of the disease.
The decision comes after two individuals who had traveled through Uganda tested positive for Ebola in Kenya and Nigeria. While the health ministry reported that 60 people being monitored after contact with the Kenyan Ebola patient have been discharged, the incident has heightened concerns.
Uganda will also restrict transit for travelers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi stated that only essential travelers from the DRC would be permitted entry into Uganda, subject to rigorous public health screenings. "All these are measures to ensure that we keep Uganda free of Ebola," Baryomunsi told the BBC.
Since the two cases emerged in Kenya and Nigeria this month, Uganda has consistently reported no Ebola cases within its own borders. The country did record 20 Ebola cases during an earlier outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with two deaths occurring shortly after the outbreak began. The World Health Organization declared Uganda free of the disease in August.
However, persistent concerns remain due to the cases of the two passengers who tested positive after transiting through Uganda's Entebbe airport on the same day. The patient in Nigeria was identified as the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat who had visited the Ugandan capital for a holiday. The Kenyan patient, a businessman, had traveled from the DRC for business purposes. CCTV footage reviewed by Uganda's health ministry showed no physical interaction between these two individuals. The Kenyan businessman died two days after arriving in Nairobi, and Kenya has since confirmed eight additional Ebola cases, with a second death reported over the weekend.