The Ministry of Health has barred all contacts to confirmed Ebola cases from local and international travels for 21 days.
“In line with International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) that require Uganda as a State Party to WHO to control the spread of infectious diseases to other nations, with minimal interruption to international trade and travel, the Ministry of Health working with the Officials from the respective Ports of Entry including Entebbe International Airport does NOT permit contacts to Ebola confirmed cases to travel locally or internationally until completion of the follow up period of 21 days,” Dr. Olaro Charles, said in a statement on behalf of the Director General of Health Services, Dr Henry Mwebesa.
Dr Olaro noted that the contact list will be regularly shared with the immigration and border control authorities, in compliance of IHR guidelines, to ensure that none of the individuals on the list is allowed to travel out of the country until discharged from the contact list.
In addition, he said, there will be temperature screening of all outbound passengers at all Ports of Entry including Entebbe International Airport.
The new measures follow the declaration of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda on the 20th September 2022.
The outbreak spread to Kyegegwa, Bunyangabu and Kagadi Districts out of the original epicenter in Mubende district.
Since then, transmission has been interrupted in these districts except Mubende and Kassanda Districts.
According to the Ministry of Health, currently the transmission remains in Mubende and Kassanda districts where Government has restricted movements in the two districts for 21 days.
The ministry says three imported cases were registered in Kampala and Wakiso district, and have set up sporadic secondary transmission.
In response to this, the Ministry of Health with support from partners has identified all the contacts, and the majority are under institutional quarantine at the Mulago Isolation Facility.