Daijiworld Media Network - Kampala
Kampala, Jun 3: Uganda has reported six additional Ebola infections, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the current outbreak to 15, according to the Ministry of Health.
Health officials said the newly confirmed patients were all identified through contact tracing efforts and had been linked to earlier reported cases. The development comes as authorities continue to strengthen surveillance and containment measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
According to the latest update, 12 patients are currently receiving treatment at designated Ebola care facilities, while two individuals have recovered and been discharged. The outbreak, declared in May, was first detected after two imported cases of Ebola Virus Disease were confirmed, including one fatality.
The Ministry of Health is currently monitoring 668 contacts associated with confirmed infections, reflecting the scale of the tracing operation underway across affected areas.
Charles Olaro, Director General of Health Services, urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if they experience symptoms associated with Ebola, stressing that early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve survival chances.
In response to the outbreak, authorities have stepped up public awareness campaigns, intensified disease surveillance and expanded contact-tracing efforts to quickly identify and isolate potential cases.
Meanwhile, India has extended support to Africa's Ebola response by dispatching a second shipment of medical aid to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The consignment includes protective equipment, diagnostic and monitoring devices, medicines and nutritional supplements aimed at strengthening outbreak preparedness and response capabilities across the continent.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced that the 43-tonne humanitarian shipment is intended to enhance public health readiness and support African nations in managing the ongoing Ebola situation. The latest assistance follows an earlier batch of emergency medical supplies and protective kits sent by India to Africa CDC in May.
Health authorities across the region remain on high alert as efforts continue to contain the outbreak and prevent community transmission.