Uganda’s Minister of Health, Charles Olaro, has dismissed claims of an active Ebola case in the country, revealing that the woman diagnosed with the disease in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is a Nigerian who travelled through Uganda.
TheNewsGuru reports that Olaro made this disclosure in a statement issued Tuesday, saying the woman travelled to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for business and transited through Uganda in early October.
According to the ministry, the woman’s transit through Uganda did not establish that she contracted the virus in the country, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine where she was exposed.
“Travel through Uganda does not establish that infection occurred here. The location of exposure remains under investigation,” the ministry said.
“The Government of Nigeria is yet to provide detailed information on her travel itinerary and clinical history, which will guide further investigations and any necessary contact tracing.
“We wish to clarify that, as at the time of this statement, Uganda has NO confirmed active Ebola cases.”
The Ugandan government said it had maintained limited provisions for humanitarian and diplomatic movement, adding that it would strengthen screening and public health controls at points of entry.
The ministry urged the public to remain calm, stay vigilant and practise regular handwashing and sanitising.
Olaro’s statement follows Nigeria’s confirmation of an Ebola case in the FCT.
Ali Pate, coordinating minister of health and social welfare, said on Tuesday that laboratory tests had confirmed the infection in a woman who recently arrived in Nigeria on an international flight from Uganda.
Pate said the patient was admitted to a private hospital in the FCT, where she received care for several days before doctors confirmed the diagnosis.
“She is currently in isolation and receiving medical care,” he said.
The minister said contact tracing had commenced, with 44 close contacts identified for monitoring.
