By Swift ReporterĀ
Uganda has confirmed six new Ebola cases, all involving Congolese nationals who had previously been identified and placed under monitoring as contacts of confirmed patients, the Ministry of Health announced on Tuesday.
The latest infections were detected through ongoing surveillance and contact-tracing operations, highlighting the effectiveness of measures being implemented to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread of the deadly virus.
According to health authorities, the six individuals had already been listed among high-risk contacts linked to earlier confirmed Ebola cases and were under routine follow-up when they tested positive.
Officials said the patients were immediately isolated and placed under care in accordance with established Ebola treatment protocols.
“The six new cases were confirmed among contacts to confirmed cases,” the Ministry of Health said in its latest update, emphasizing that the infections were identified through active monitoring rather than community transmission.
The ministry also revealed that a total of 668 contacts are currently being tracked across the country as part of efforts to break chains of transmission. So far, one Ebola-related death has been recorded during the current outbreak, while two patients have successfully recovered and been discharged from treatment.
Health experts say the latest developments demonstrate the critical role of contact tracing in controlling Ebola outbreaks, as early identification and isolation of infected individuals significantly reduce the risk of wider transmission.
The confirmation of the new cases comes amid heightened vigilance along Uganda’s western border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where authorities have strengthened screening procedures, surveillance systems and cross-border coordination to detect and respond to potential infections.
Despite the increase in confirmed cases, the Ministry of Health has urged the public to remain calm, noting that all six infections were detected among known contacts already under observation.
Officials say this indicates that surveillance teams are effectively tracking individuals at risk and that there is currently no evidence suggesting widespread community transmission.
Uganda has extensive experience responding to Ebola outbreaks and has activated a range of emergency response measures, including rapid response teams, treatment centres, laboratory testing networks and community surveillance systems.
Health authorities continue to encourage the public to report suspected cases immediately, avoid contact with individuals exhibiting Ebola symptoms and adhere to public health guidelines issued by the government.
As investigations and monitoring efforts continue, officials remain optimistic that aggressive contact tracing and rapid response interventions will help bring the outbreak under control and prevent further loss of life.
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