WHO Chief Visits Uganda Amid Ebola Outbreak Concerns

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), visited Uganda on Monday in response to a deadly Ebola outbreak that has claimed two lives. The outbreak originated in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has declared an international health emergency.

As of May 15, the DRC reported 515 confirmed Ebola infections, including 91 deaths. In Uganda, there have been 19 confirmed cases, with 14 involving individuals who entered from the DRC and five being Ugandan nationals.

Tedros emphasized the importance of Uganda's preparedness and response capabilities, stating that the country is working diligently to manage the outbreak. He also noted the need for screening at borders to detect cases and highlighted the ongoing collaboration with the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

The current outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo Ebola strain, and there is no specific vaccine or treatment available for this strain.