Uganda has imposed a 21 day mandatory quarantine on citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) as it steps up measures to stop the spread of Ebola.
The quarantines were announced by the health ministry after Ebola cases were identified in Kenya and Nigeria among those who travelled through Uganda.
Ugandan citizens returning from DR Congo must now self isolate and those travelling to and from DR Congo cannot transit through Uganda.
Strengthened screening procedures have been placed at Entebbe International airport, border posts and road checkpoints.
“We shall only allow those who travelled from DR Congo will be essential travellers and even then we shall place them under tight health conditions,” Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi told the BBC’s Newsday programme.
“This is to prevent Uganda from getting any more cases.”
The ministry confirmed that all 60 individuals who had been put under surveillance after coming into contact with the Kenyan Ebola patient had been released.
There are currently no cases of Ebola in Uganda. The country had 20 cases and two deaths after the outbreak in DR Congo but was declared Ebola free by the World Health Organisation in August.
Concerns have however risen after two people who tested positive for Ebola in Kenya and Nigeria had travelled through Entebbe airport on the same day.
The Nigerian patient is a Ugandan national married to a Swiss diplomat, who had travelled to Kampala for a holiday, said Jean Kaseya, head of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Kenyan patient was a businessman who had travelled from DR Congo.
“There was no direct contact between the two patients. The CCTV cameras at the airport show that,” said Uganda’s Health Ministry Permanent Secretary, Diana Atwine.
Ugandan and Nigerian authorities are investigating the Nigerian patient to find out their movements and travel history.
The Kenyan businessman died two days after arriving in Nairobi. Since then there have been eight confirmed cases in Kenya. Another woman related to the businessman also died at the weekend.
Health officials say the risk remains high as Uganda borders DR Congo where there is ongoing transmission. Communities are also very close due to trade and travel.
This particular Ebola outbreak is of the Bundibugyo species. This is a rare strain and there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment available though there are trials in progress.
