Uganda Insists It’s Ebola-Free, Bars Travellers From DRC From Transiting

Uganda has barred travellers with a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from transiting through the country.

The restriction comes amid an investigation into a female traveller who arrived Nigeria from Uganda and later tested positive for the Bundibugyo virus disease in Nigeria.

The patient, the wife of a Swiss diplomat, had arrived Nigeria and presented at a private health facility in Abuja before being diagnosed with the disease on October 20.

Her travel history, point and mode of contracting the virus is still under investigation.

In a statement issued on Friday, Charles Olaro, Uganda’s director-general of health services, said the measures were precautionary and aimed at strengthening surveillance and preventing the spread of the disease.

The Ugandan health ministry said available information indicated that the traveller did not exhibit symptoms when she departed the country.

Olaro said investigations are, however, continuing to establish when her symptoms began and the circumstances surrounding her infection.

The Ugandan government maintained that the country is Ebola-free.

“The Ministry of Health wishes to assure the country that Uganda remains Ebola-free,” the statement reads.

The ministry said it was working with Nigerian authorities to establish the traveller’s full travel history, movements and possible exposure to the virus.

It has also requested additional information, including detailed travel records and genomic sequencing results, where available.

As part of the additional precautions, Uganda has reinstated traveller locator forms for all incoming travellers, regardless of their country of origin, to facilitate contact tracing where necessary.

It said infection prevention and control measures have also been reinforced at all points of entry and exit, as well as at health facilities, while surveillance continues across the country.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) had advised against travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.

It said it was closely monitoring measures introduced by countries in response to the outbreak and would verify travel and trade restrictions where necessary.