After crossing into Uganda on 9 June, at least one person who was initially diagnosed with the Ebola virus has died. Two additional cases have been confirmed on 12 June following the spread of the Ebola outbreak in Kasese.

According to health authorities, the two confirmed cases are the fatality’s sibling and grandmother. The country’s health ministry further announced that eight other people, who have been in contact with the three victims, are currently being monitored.

The World Health Organization (WHO) will convene on 14 June to determine whether to declare the Ebola outbreak a global health emergency.

Analysis
On 11 June, health authorities confirmed that a Congolese boy tested positive for the Ebola virus. The boy, who crossed the Bwera border crossing, was initially treated at Kagando Hospital before being transferred to an Ebola treatment unit in Bwera. The situation marks the first known case of Ebola virus in the country amid an ongoing outbreak in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As of 4 June, at least 1,346 people have been killed in the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which is concentrated in eastern DRC province of North Kivu.

No proven vaccine or cure is currently available for the Ebola virus, which is highly contagious and often fatal. However, authorities are reportedly administering four experimental drugs during the current outbreak. Transmission may occur even through contact with deceased humans or animals. Symptoms include fever, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and internal and external bleeding.

Advice
While hospital workers, laboratory workers and family members are at greatest risk of contracting the virus, individuals travelling to Ebola-affected countries should exercise basic health precautions including:

  • Avoid areas of known outbreaks.
  • Avoid contact with infected individuals.
  • Strict personal hygiene including frequent hand washing should be adhered to while traveling in endemic areas.
  • Report any symptoms to health officials immediately.

Our operations team is standing by 24/7/365 to provide travel assistance and advisory services to members. Contact Global Rescue at +1 617.459.4200 or email us at memberservices@globalrescue.com.