Uganda confirms two new Ebola cases as regional outbreak intensifies

In a statement issued on Friday, May 29, Uganda's Ministry of Health said both newly confirmed patients are Congolese nationals.

According to the ministry, one of the patients presented with symptoms consistent with Ebola and was immediately isolated by health authorities, while the second patient was identified as a contact of a previously confirmed case.

Health officials said all contacts linked to the new cases have been identified and placed under close monitoring as part of efforts to prevent further transmission.

"The public is reminded of the following Ebola symptoms: sudden fever, fatigue, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea and unexplained bleeding. If you or someone you know has these symptoms, call our toll-free number immediately. When an individual reports early, the chances of survival are high," the ministry said.

The latest cases come amid growing concern over a regional outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola that has been spreading in eastern DRC and has already crossed into Uganda through imported infections.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that there are 906 suspected Ebola cases in the DRC, including 223 suspected deaths that are still under investigation. So far, 125 cases and 17 deaths have been confirmed in the provinces of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Health experts have expressed concern over the outbreak because it circulated undetected for nearly two months before being identified, allowing the virus to spread through densely populated communities and complicating efforts to trace and isolate contacts.

The WHO has classified the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, warning that the Bundibugyo strain poses additional challenges because there is currently no approved vaccine specifically targeting it.

According to WHO officials, the fatality rate among confirmed Ebola patients ranges between 30 and 50 percent, meaning up to five in every ten infected individuals could die without timely medical intervention.

Despite the alarming figures, health authorities stated that early detection and treatment significantly improve survival rates, with the first recovered patient already discharged from a treatment facility in the DRC after testing negative twice.

The developments in Uganda come as Kenya grapples with a legal battle over its preparedness plans for a potential Ebola outbreak.

The High Court temporarily barred the Kenyan government from establishing or operationalising any Ebola treatment facility under an arrangement involving the United States or any other foreign government.

The court also prohibited the admission, transfer or reception of persons exposed to or infected with Ebola into Kenya under the disputed arrangement until a petition filed by the Katiba Institute is heard and determined.

The petition challenges reports of a partnership between Kenya and foreign governments regarding the management of Ebola cases.

The court order came shortly after the United States announced a commitment of $13.5 million, approximately Ksh.1.75 billion, to support Kenya's Ebola preparedness efforts amid growing regional concerns over the outbreak.

The funding package was announced following discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President William Ruto on regional public health response measures and efforts to strengthen Kenya's capacity to detect and manage potential Ebola cases.