Health authorities in Uganda have placed more than 100 people under quarantine following an outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, as officials intensify efforts to prevent further spread of the disease. The quarantined individuals are being monitored at an undisclosed location, with medical teams conducting regular checks for symptoms linked to the highly infectious virus. Authorities say the situation is currently under control and stress that Uganda’s long experience in managing previous outbreaks has strengthened its emergency response system. Alan Kasujja, Executive Director of the Uganda Media Center and Communications Focal Person for the Ebola Task Force, said experienced healthcare workers are leading the containment operation.
“All you need to know at this point is that over 100 people have been identified and they are being quarantined, and they are being treated by very experienced medical people,” Kasujja stated. He also pointed to Uganda’s past success in handling outbreaks of Ebola, COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS, urging the public to remain calm, observe safety protocols and cooperate with health officials. The outbreak comes amid growing concern across Central and East Africa as the World Health Organization warns about the increasing “scale and speed” of a worsening Ebola crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congolese authorities say at least 131 people have died, while more than 500 suspected cases have been recorded, raising fears of wider regional transmission if the outbreak is not quickly contained.
