Three new cases of Ebola have been discovered in Uganda, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to five, according to Uganda's Ministry of Health.
A driver and a healthcare worker who had contact with the first confirmed patient have contracted Ebola. The virus is also suspected in two other individuals who had contact with infected persons.
Another case was recorded in a woman who is a permanent resident of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The patient entered Uganda with "mild abdominal discomfort." Upon arrival in Kampala, the woman sought medical care at a private clinic. After her condition improved, the patient returned to the DRC. However, the Ministry of Health later received a report from the aircraft crew regarding the woman's condition and conducted an analysis of her samples, which confirmed Ebola infection.
"The Ministry of Health urges all citizens to remain calm, vigilant, and continue to observe all recommended preventive measures. Any suspicious symptoms of the Ebola virus should be immediately reported to the nearest medical facility," the ministry stated.
Earlier in May, Uganda's Ministry of Health temporarily suspended flights to and from the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to the Ebola outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the new Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern. DRC authorities have reported 136 deaths from the disease and over 500 confirmed cases.
In response to the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda, authorities in Zambia, Burundi, Tanzania, and Rwanda have announced measures to combat the infection.
Ebola is a severe, acute viral disease with a high fatality rate. Transmission occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as with contaminated surfaces and materials.