Uganda on high alert after Kenya confirms Ebola case travelled through country

What the report says

Uganda’s health authorities have increased surveillance and border screening after Kenya confirmed that a man who later died from Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease had travelled from the Democratic Republic of Congo through Kampala before entering Kenya. The Independent Uganda reported that the Ministry of Health says the country remains safe, but is keeping response measures in place while investigations continue.

According to Kenya’s health officials, the patient was a Kenyan national who had lived in the DRC for several years and became ill before travelling by road to Kampala, then flying to Nairobi. He was taken from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport directly to hospital and isolated, but later died after laboratory tests confirmed the infection. Kenyan authorities said they have identified contacts linked to the case and are tracing fellow passengers from the flight.

Ugandan officials said there is no immediate cause for alarm, though it was not yet clear whether the man underwent all required screening in Uganda. The ministry said border teams remain active and are intended to detect possible imported cases early. Uganda has previously dealt with Ebola outbreaks linked to cross-border movement with the DRC, and it continues to keep restrictions and screening measures at that border.

The development is significant because it underscores the risk of Ebola transmission across regional travel routes and the need for rapid tracing and isolation. Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids and can be fatal in severe cases.