Uganda has confirmed three new Ebola cases, bringing the total number of infections to 19 since the outbreak began on May 15, as announced by the Ministry of Health. These new cases were in contact with previously confirmed patients and were under institutional quarantine. Additionally, the ministry reported one new death of a Congolese national.
Of the 19 confirmed cases, 13 patients are currently receiving treatment, four have recovered and been discharged, and two have died from the disease. The ministry specified that 14 cases were imported from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), while five were Ugandan nationals. It reassured that the country remains safe and open to visitors.
The index case in Uganda was a Congolese national who had traveled from eastern DRC, the epicenter of the regional outbreak, for medical treatment. Meanwhile, in the DRC, confirmed Ebola cases have reached 363 with 62 deaths, while Uganda reported four recoveries. These updates were discussed during an online press briefing by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, emphasizing progress in treatment and recoveries.
During the briefing, WHO Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Janabi, mentioned that six patients in the DRC and some in Uganda had been successfully treated and discharged. Uganda’s Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine stated that the country had confirmed 15 Ebola cases, including four among health workers who treated the first patient, with four already discharged.
