Ebola: Uganda tightens border controls, bars transit for DRC travellers

Uganda has imposed restrictions on travellers with a history of visiting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), barring them from transiting through the country amid concerns over Ebola transmission.

According to Premium Times, Uganda’s Ministry of Health announced the restrictions on Friday while investigating an Ebola case recently confirmed in Nigeria.

The ministry also reinstated traveller locator forms to strengthen contact tracing and surveillance.

“Available information indicates that the traveller did not exhibit symptoms at the time of departure from Uganda. However, investigations are continuing to establish the timing of symptom onset and the circumstances surrounding her infection,” the ministry stated.

Uganda maintained that it “remains Ebola-free,” despite ongoing investigations involving Nigerian health authorities.

The country previously recorded 20 confirmed Ebola cases and two deaths before declaring its outbreak over in August.

Meanwhile, the DRC has reported 9,704 confirmed cases and 4,687 deaths across eight provinces as of October 20, according to the World Health Organisation.