Uganda investigates origins of Ebola infections in Nigeria and Kenya

Uganda is investigating a possible link between Ebola infections reported in Nigeria and Kenya, as health authorities examine the movements of a Ugandan woman infected in Nigeria and a Kenyan man who passed through Uganda after staying in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The investigations notably focus on their passing through Entebbe International Airport on the same day, Rwanda Dispatch reports.

The woman, who is married to a Swiss diplomat, tested positive in Nigeria on 20 October. Swiss authorities believe she contracted the virus during a stay in Uganda in September, while Ugandan Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi has called for all possible exposure routes to be examined. The World Health Organisation said on 23 October that the information available to it did not show that the patient had travelled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Kenyan man travelled from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Kenya via Uganda before landing in Nairobi on 3 October. He died two days later, and Kenya subsequently reported a second Ebola-related death. Ugandan authorities say surveillance footage shows no physical interaction between the two travellers in Entebbe.

Uganda has strengthened checks at Entebbe airport and land borders. Travellers entering the country must provide their contact details to allow them to be monitored, while nationals returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo are subject to 21 days of quarantine at their own expense, a measure announced by Chris Baryomunsi on Sunday, according to Rwanda Dispatch. This measure follows the imposition of 21 days of quarantine on travellers on 25 October and Ebola screening for all entrants, also announced on 25 October.