Uganda orders 21-day quarantine for DRC returnees

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 26 Oct, 08:56 · Archive

Uganda has ordered citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to quarantine for 21 days.

Uganda's Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi announced on Sunday that citizens returning after travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo must quarantine for 21 days at their own cost. The country has also banned most travellers who have been in the DRC from transiting through Uganda and strengthened screening at Entebbe International Airport and land border crossings.

The measures come after two people who had travelled through Uganda tested positive for Ebola: one in Kenya and one in Nigeria, both reported this month. More than 4,800 people have died in the DRC since the outbreak began in May. Uganda declared its own outbreak over in July after recording 20 cases and two deaths, and the World Health Organization confirmed the country was free of the disease in August.

Swiss authorities believe a Ugandan-born woman diagnosed in Nigeria was infected during a visit to Uganda in September. However, Health Minister Baryomunsi challenged this conclusion at Sunday's briefing, noting that relatives who had previously visited the DRC had met the woman in Kampala and questioning whether that exposure route had been ruled out. The WHO said the information it had received did not show the woman had travelled to the DRC. Nigerian and Ugandan officials are investigating her movements and possible source of infection.

How it is being reported

• Uganda imposes 21-day quarantine on citizens returning from DR CongoUganda will also not allow most travellers who have been in DR Congo to transit through the country.BBC News · 26 Oct, 08:18
• Uganda orders 21-day Ebola quarantine for citizens returning from DR CongoKampala says country is Ebola free, but Swiss authorities believe a woman diagnosed in Nigeria was infected in Uganda.Al Jazeera · 25 Oct, 18:20

In this story: Uganda · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Chris Baryomunsi · Kenya · Nigeria · World Health Organization · Entebbe International Airport

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