By Swift Reporter
Sex workers in border towns have been warned to suspend sexual activities as Uganda and Kenya step up Ebola surveillance amid renewed outbreaks in the region, including in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease has killed about 135 people.
Authorities say high-risk groups in trading centres remain vulnerable due to the constant movement of long-distance truck drivers along border routes.
In Buikwe, Assistant Resident District Commissioner Richard Chris Kakwezi said Ebola spreads rapidly through bodily contact, making close-contact groups especially exposed if preventive measures are not observed.
Speaking in Bukaya, Njeru Municipality, Kakwezi urged sex workers to exercise caution, noting that truck drivers passing through Uganda’s border corridors, including those from Kenya, could increase exposure risks.
“We advise you to be vigilant because these truck drivers might carry the Ebola virus into Uganda, and the most at-risk group is prostitutes,” he said.
Kakwezi added that since Ebola is spread through direct contact with body fluids, sexual activity, especially with an infected person, can accelerate transmission.
“Ebola is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, contaminated objects, and infected animals such as bats,” he said.
He emphasized that Ebola is not airborne and can be prevented through strict hygiene, avoiding physical contact with suspected cases, regular handwashing with soap or sanitiser, proper use of protective gear, and early reporting to health authorities.
Uganda and Kenya have meanwhile intensified Ebola surveillance at Busia and Malaba border points, rolling out enhanced screening measures to prevent possible cross-border transmission.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera said the two countries are working closely to strengthen coordination and information sharing in response to the outbreak.
“Disease outbreaks do not respect borders, and as Kenya, we cannot single-handedly manage this epidemic without the involvement of Uganda,” Odera said.
Odera, who is also the County Executive Committee Member for Health in Busia County, added that health teams are currently screening travellers by checking temperatures, travel history and possible symptoms, alongside enforcing hygiene measures.
Authorities in both countries have also intensified public sensitisation campaigns urging vigilance, early reporting of suspected cases, and strict adherence to preventive measures as surveillance continues at major entry points.
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