Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever in Uganda

06 Aug 2012

An outbreak of Ebola haemorrhagic fever was confirmed in Uganda last week. New cases continue to be reported in the outbreak in Kibaale district, western Uganda. The Ministry of Health has reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a total of 53 suspected cases including 16 deaths, of those, 5 have been laboratory confirmed.

At present, 32 cases have been admitted to the isolation unit in Kagadi hospital, Kibaale district and a total of 312 contacts of cases have been identified, of those, 253 are being monitored closely.

Testing for Ebola virus in other districts has proved negative for all samples, indicating that the outbreak has so far been contained and not spread to other areas. A Ministerial Task Force has been convened and the Ministry of Health is facilitating and coordinating the outbreak respone and is working closely with other agencies e.g. WHO, CDC, MSF, Ugandan Red Cross Society.

Advice for Travellers

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk for travellers and EU citizens residing in the country:

"The risk of residents and travellers becoming infected or developing the disease is extremely low, unless there has been direct contact with blood, bodily fluids of dead or living infected persons or animals. As a precautionary measure, EU citizens in Uganda should avoid such contact. Travellers returning from tropical countries should always seek rapid medical attention if they develop flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache or general malaise) within three weeks after return."

WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions are applied to Uganda.