Uganda Denies Link to Nigeria’s Ebola Case, Says Woman Travelled to DR Congo
Uganda has clarified that a Nigerian woman who tested positive for Ebola in Abuja travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) before transiting through Uganda, stressing that her journey through the country does not establish where she contracted the virus.
In a statement issued on October 20, Uganda’s Ministry of Health said preliminary information indicated that the woman had travelled to eastern DRC for business before passing through Uganda in early October. She reportedly showed no symptoms while in Uganda but developed them after arriving in Nigeria.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here,” the ministry said, adding that investigations into the likely source of infection were continuing.
Uganda also confirmed that it had no active, confirmed Ebola cases at the time of the statement. The country declared its previous outbreak over in July after its last confirmed patient was discharged and no further transmission was detected.
Nigeria confirmed its first case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease on October 20, after laboratory tests on the woman returned positive. She had sought treatment at a private hospital in Abuja and is now in isolation receiving medical care.
Nigeria’s health authorities have identified 44 contacts linked to the patient and are monitoring them to prevent further transmission. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has activated its response system, with support from the World Health Organization.
The WHO said investigations were ongoing to reconstruct the patient’s travel and exposure history and establish the likely source of infection.
The clarification comes as the Ebola outbreak originating in the DRC continues to affect countries in the region. Health authorities are urging vigilance, strengthened surveillance and prompt reporting of suspected cases while cautioning against drawing conclusions about the source of infection before investigations are completed.
