Ugandan citizens returning to the country with a history of travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo will be quarantined for 21 days, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said on Sunday, as Uganda tightened Ebola precautions despite saying it remained Ebola-free, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25

Baryomunsi said all 60 contacts linked to a Kenyan Ebola case had completed their 21-day monitoring period and been discharged. The contacts were traced across points of entry and exit, hotels and transport operators linked to travellers' movements through Uganda, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25

"The ministry has intensified traveller screening at Entebbe International Airport and all land border crossings. All travellers intending to enter Uganda by air, land or water must complete the passenger locator form," Baryomunsi said, in the statement reported by Reuters.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25 (minister statement)

Why Congo travel is the focus

Uganda borders Congo, where the current outbreak began, and has previously battled Ebola outbreaks, Reuters noted. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a different Ebola species from the Zaire virus for which the Ervebo vaccine is licensed, according to WHO and CEPI reporting on the Tumaini trial launched in Bunia this week.

Source: CEPI / WHO via NewsUltra360, Oct 24

Figures cited by CEPI put Congo at 9,552 confirmed cases and 4,602 deaths as of October 21, in what CEPI described as the largest recorded Bundibugyo outbreak. The outbreak, declared on May 15, was designated a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, CEPI said.

Source: CEPI via NewsUltra360, Oct 24

Nigeria and Kenya links under investigation

Uganda has been investigating a Nigerian Ebola case involving a woman who had travelled from Uganda, Reuters reported. Officials said they were reviewing genomic sequencing, travel information, interactions and movements in coordination with Nigerian authorities and international partners.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25

Genomic analysis of Nigeria's only confirmed Ebola case showed the virus was closely related to the strain detected in Kenya's index case, though Nigerian authorities said there was no evidence that the Kenya case travelled to Nigeria or had a direct connection, Reuters reported. Those links are presented here as the authorities' reported findings, not as a settled chain of transmission.

Source: Reuters, Oct 25