By Ebi Kesiena
Uganda has stepped up Ebola surveillance measures at its border entry points following the worsening outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo, where the virus has reportedly claimed more than 90 lives.
Health officials have deployed emergency response teams to border communities near Bundibugyo District in western Uganda, carrying out temperature screenings on travelers and enforcing compulsory handwashing as part of efforts to prevent the disease from spreading into the country.
The outbreak, which has raised regional alarm, was recently declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO), prompting neighboring countries to activate rapid response protocols and strengthen monitoring systems at key crossing points.
Speaking on the intensified response, Ugandan health worker Clovis Bwambale said authorities had begun sensitizing healthcare workers and residents on preventive measures and early detection.
“When we heard the news of Ebola, we first educated health attendants on how to avoid contact with suspected cases and how to protect themselves while handling patients,” Bwambale said.
The current outbreak is linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a variant for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment. Health experts warn that the strain carries a high fatality risk, making swift containment efforts critical.
Residents in the affected border region, however, expressed cautious confidence in the government’s ability to contain the disease based on previous experiences with Ebola outbreaks.
“It is not the first time Ebola has affected Bundibugyo. We have gone through this before, and I believe the government has the capacity to manage the situation if it spreads,” Ugandan politician Mbabazi Alice said.
In a statement issued late Monday, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda a Continental Public Health Emergency.
According to regional health authorities, DR Congo has recorded 131 deaths from 513 suspected Ebola cases, while Uganda has confirmed one related death, heightening fears of a wider regional health crisis.
