Uganda has barred travellers with a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from transiting through the country.
The restriction comes amid an investigation into a female
traveller who arrived Nigeria from Uganda and later tested positive for the
Bundibugyo virus disease in Nigeria.
The patient, the wife of a Swiss diplomatic, had arrived
Nigeria and presented at a private health facility in Abuja before being
diagnosed of the disease on October 20.
Her travel history, point and mode of contracting the virus
is still under investigation.
In a statement issued on Friday, Charles Olaro, Uganda’s
director-general of health services, said the measures were precautionary and
aimed at strengthening surveillance and preventing the spread of the disease.
The Ugandan health ministry said available information
indicated that the traveller did not exhibit symptoms when she departed the
country.
Olaro said investigations are, however, continuing to
establish when her symptoms began and the circumstances surrounding her
infection.
The Ugandan government maintained that the country is
Ebola-free.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to assure the country that
Uganda remains Ebola-free,” the statement reads.
The ministry said it was working with Nigerian authorities
to establish the traveller’s full travel history, movements and possible
exposure to the virus.
It has also requested additional information, including
detailed travel records and genomic sequencing results, where available.
As part of the additional precautions, Uganda has reinstated
traveller locator forms for all incoming travellers, regardless of their
country of origin, to facilitate contact tracing where necessary.
It said infection prevention and control measures have also
been reinforced at all points of entry and exit, as well as at health
facilities, while surveillance continues across the country.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had advised against
travel or trade restrictions on countries affected by the Ebola outbreak.
It said it was closely monitoring measures introduced by
countries in response to the outbreak and would verify travel and trade
restrictions where necessary.
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