Uganda Forces Returnees From DR Congo to Pay for 21-Day Isolation

Uganda's government ordered citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo to undergo 21 days of quarantine at their own expense. Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced the measures on Sunday, stating the goal is to prevent Ebola from entering the country. The directive also blocks travelers from the DR Congo from using Uganda as a transit point.

The outbreak in the DR Congo has claimed more than 4,800 lives since May, marking it as the deadliest in that nation's history. The virus has since spread to neighboring regions. In response, Uganda increased screening at Entebbe International Airport and all land border crossings, adding extra checks at specific road checkpoints. Only essential travelers from the DR Congo are now permitted entry, subject to what Baryomunsi described as "intense public health measures."

Tighter restrictions followed the detection of two individuals who tested positive for Ebola in Kenya and Nigeria after passing through Entebbe on the same day. Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, identified the Nigerian patient as the Ugandan-born wife of a Swiss diplomat who had vacationed in Kampala. The Kenyan patient was a businessman with commercial interests in the DR Congo. Diana Atwine, the permanent secretary of the health ministry, noted that CCTV footage showed no physical contact between the two individuals during their time in Uganda.

The Kenyan businessman died two days after arriving in Nairobi. Kenya has since confirmed eight additional cases, and a relative of the businessman died over the weekend. Ugandan officials reported that 60 people monitored for exposure to the Kenyan patient have all been discharged. While Uganda initially stated the woman in Nigeria only transited through the country, the ministry confirmed on Sunday that it is collaborating with Nigeria to map her full travel history and potential exposure routes.

Uganda has recorded no new cases within its borders this month, despite having 20 cases and two deaths early in the outbreak. The World Health Organization declared the country free of the disease in August. Baryomunsi emphasized that the recent international cases indicate the risk persists, particularly because Uganda shares a border with the DR Congo where transmission continues. He highlighted the close ties between communities through trade, travel, and family. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which spreads through contact with infected bodily fluids. No vaccine or specific treatment exists yet, though clinical trials are ongoing.