Uganda Denies Active Ebola Cases, Says Abuja Patient Only Transited Through Country

Uganda’s Ministry of Health has said it has no confirmed active Ebola cases, clarifying that the Nigerian woman diagnosed with the disease in Abuja travelled through the East African country after visiting the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Charles Olaro, the ministry’s director-general of health services, the Ugandan government said the woman travelled to eastern DRC for business before transiting through Uganda in early October.

According to the ministry, the woman did not show symptoms while in Uganda but developed them after arriving in Nigeria.

It stressed that her passage through Uganda did not establish that she contracted the virus in the country, noting that investigations were ongoing to determine the location of her exposure.

“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the statement said.

The ministry also said Nigeria had yet to provide detailed information about the patient’s travel itinerary and clinical history to assist further investigations and possible contact tracing.

“The Government of Nigeria is yet to provide detailed information on her travel itinerary and clinical history which will guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing,” it added.

Reaffirming its position, the Ugandan government said, “We wish to clarify that, as at the time of this statement, Uganda has NO confirmed active Ebola cases.”

The ministry said Uganda had maintained limited provisions for humanitarian and diplomatic movements, adding that it would strengthen screening measures and public health controls at its points of entry.

It urged the public to remain calm and vigilant while observing preventive measures, including regular handwashing and sanitising.

The clarification followed  Nigeria’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ali Pate, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, announced on Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed the infection in a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.

According to Pate, the patient had been admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received medical care for several days before the infection was confirmed.

“She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care,” the minister said.

Pate added that contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring as health authorities worked to contain the potential spread of the virus.

The identification of the contacts came  as Nigerian health officials investigate the circumstances surrounding the infection and seek to establish where the patient may have been exposed.

The development comes amid renewed concerns over Ebola in parts of East Africa.

In October, Kenyan authorities confirmed the country’s first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease.

The Ugandan government’s statement, however, maintained that the Nigerian patient’s transit through its territory was not sufficient evidence that she contracted the virus there.