Uganda's Ministry of Health has announced a fresh set of Ebola prevention measures to contain any possible spillover from the ongoing outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), even as the country has recorded no new cases in the past five days. The cumulative tally in Uganda stands at 19 confirmed cases, including two deaths, as of 11 June.

New Prevention Measures Rolled Out

Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi, speaking after President Yoweri Museveni's national address on the outbreak on Wednesday, said prevention guidelines have been distributed to all districts bordering the eastern DRC — the epicentre of the current outbreak. Mass gatherings, including weddings and market days, have been suspended, and schools have been directed to strictly adhere to the ministry's health protocols.

The measures signal a deliberate escalation in Uganda's preparedness posture, even in the absence of active transmission. This is consistent with the country's response playbook from earlier outbreaks, where border-district surveillance has historically been the first line of defence.

New Scientific Insight on Virus Concentration

Diana Atwine, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, shared an observation that could have broader implications for global Ebola response. Recent findings indicate that once symptoms appear, the Bundibugyo Ebola virus is more concentrated in the alimentary canal than in the bloodstream.

'We have seen that when people start getting symptoms, the virus is highly concentrated in the saliva, vomitus and the stool,' Atwine said, adding that the finding could advance global knowledge on combating Ebola. She urged the public to avoid sharing cups or drinking utensils and to refrain from eating cracked fruits during the fruit season, as partial animal consumption of such fruit is difficult to detect.

DRC Outbreak: 635 Cases and Counting

Across the border, the DRC's confirmed Ebola case count has climbed to 635 as of 9 June, according to DRC Health Minister Roger Kamba. In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Kamba said the outbreak — caused by the Bundibugyo Ebola virus — continues to pose challenges, though the response is gaining momentum as more patients recover and contact tracing improves.

The proportion of contacts under follow-up has risen to 61.1 per cent, up from 56.4 per cent a day earlier. Kamba also announced eight new recoveries — seven in Nyankunde and one in Mongbwalu, both in the eastern province of Ituri — bringing total recoveries to 30. 'Each recovery sends a strong message: come for treatment, as early care saves lives,' he said.

Resources Deployed and International Alert

According to Kamba, 490 tonnes of medicines have been deployed, laboratories strengthened, and response teams mobilised around the clock across Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces. The DRC declared its latest Ebola outbreak on 15 May. Two days later, on 17 May, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) — its highest alert level.

With Uganda's border districts on heightened watch and the DRC's case count still rising, the trajectory of the outbreak over the coming weeks will be closely monitored by regional and global health authorities.