Uganda has confirmed three new cases of Ebola, raising the total number of infections in the country to five since the outbreak was first detected on May 15. Health authorities announced the development on Saturday as efforts intensified to contain the deadly virus.
According to Uganda’s Ministry of Health, the newly confirmed patients include a Ugandan truck driver, a Ugandan health worker, and a woman from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, which remains the centre of the current Ebola outbreak in the region.
The ministry said surveillance, contact tracing, case management, and public awareness campaigns have been strengthened to prevent further spread of the disease. Officials also urged citizens to remain alert and follow health guidelines aimed at controlling infections.
The announcement comes shortly after the World Health Organization raised the Ebola outbreak risk level in the Democratic Republic of Congo to its highest category. The move reflects growing concerns about cross border transmission and the possibility of wider regional spread.
Earlier this week, Uganda confirmed its first two Ebola related cases involving Congolese nationals who entered the country through the border. One of the patients later d from the virus, prompting authorities to impose strict preventive measures.
On Thursday, the Ugandan government suspended all public transport services between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in an effort to limit movement and reduce the risk of additional infections entering the country.
Health experts say Ebola is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. Symptoms include fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, and internal bleeding in severe cases.
Authorities in Uganda continue to monitor contacts linked to the confirmed patients while emergency response teams work alongside international health agencies to contain the outbreak before it escalates further across East Africa.
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