Uganda's health ministry confirmed an Ebola outbreak on Friday following the death of a 59-year-old man who had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The man died at Kibuli Muslim Hospital in Kampala after being admitted on May 11 and passing away three days later. His body was repatriated to the DRC after death.

Testing conducted by Ugandan authorities on a sample taken during his treatment confirmed infection with the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus. This marks an imported case, with no local transmission confirmed so far. The ministry stated the outbreak originated in eastern DRC, where 65 suspected deaths have been linked to the virus.

"The Ministry of Health has today confirmed (an) Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease outbreak," officials said in a statement. They emphasized that the case was imported and that Uganda had not recorded any locally transmitted infections. In response, the country has activated screening, surveillance, and rapid response measures at key entry points and health facilities.

The Bundibugyo strain, one of several variants of the Ebola virus, is known for causing severe hemorrhagic fever. The World Health Organization has previously classified Ebola outbreaks as public health emergencies of international concern when transmission crosses borders. Uganda shares a long porous border with eastern DRC, where previous Ebola outbreaks have spilled over in recent years.

💡 NaijaBuzz Take

The Ugandan health ministry confirmed an Ebola death from a cross-border case while asserting no local transmission has occurred, yet the rapid repatriation of the body risks undermining containment efforts. The 59-year-old man died in Kampala after arriving from the DRC, where 65 suspected Ebola deaths have already been recorded. With screening now intensified, the movement of infected individuals across the shared border remains a direct threat to Ugandan communities. Any delay in detection could trigger a wider outbreak in densely populated areas near the frontier.

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