The Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, visited Uganda on Monday as the country battles an Ebola outbreak that has claimed two lives after crossing from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The WHO declared an international health emergency over the outbreak, first announced on May 15 in northeastern DRC, where 515 confirmed infections and 91 deaths have been recorded. “I am in Uganda, where the government has mounted a prompt and capable response,” Tedros wrote on X following his arrival and a meeting with a senior Ugandan health ministry official.
Of the 19 confirmed Ugandan cases, 14 involved persons who entered from DRC, while five are Ugandan nationals. Both fatalities were DRC nationals.The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which no approved vaccine or treatment currently exists.
It is the 17th Ebola outbreak to hit the DRC.Tedros said the WHO, alongside the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and regional partners, was supporting Uganda’s response. “With continued collaboration, I am confident this outbreak can be brought under control,” he said.
