The Ebola alert level in Uganda has increased

Infected people in the districts of Mubende, Bunyangabu, Kyegegwa, Kasanda and Kagadi

There is an Ebola outbreak in some regions of Uganda that are also frequented by tourists. RIVM therefore asks healthcare professionals to pay attention to Ugandan travelers regarding complaints that may be related to Ebola and to request diagnoses to rule out or confirm. Travelers returning from these areas are also advised to pay attention to symptoms of Ebola. However, the risk for patients with this disease remains low.

Level 2
There are several stages of growth for Ebola. As a result, healthcare professionals who might be involved with a possible patient in the Netherlands know better where they are. Phase 2 for Ebola is now in effect, which means there is an outbreak somewhere in the world, with a real possibility of a patient in the Netherlands. The possibility is real, but it remains small.

Outbreak in Uganda
On September 20, the Uganda Ministry of Health and the WHO (World Health Organization) reported that there was an Ebola outbreak in Uganda. Since the outbreak, doctors have diagnosed 54 people with Ebola, 19 of whom have died. Additionally, there are 20 probable Ebola deaths among individuals who died before a sample was collected. So far more than 1000 contacts have been found in this group.

Neighborhoods
People have been infected in the districts of Mubende, Bunyangabu, Kyegegwa, Kasanda and Kagadi. Especially in the Bunyangabu region many tourists come to visit Uganda. Anyone traveling to these areas is strongly advised not to eat wild animal meat, not to touch the animals and to avoid contact with (possible) patients or deceased people. Also, keep an eye on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for up-to-date travel tips.

Complaints, disputes
Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever that makes people seriously ill. The disease often begins with fever, headache, and muscle aches, but can progress to bleeding in the body. Outbreaks have occurred in Africa, such as Congo in 2018-2019 and West Africa in 2014-2015. About half of people infected with the virus died in these outbreaks.

Have you been to Uganda in the last 3 weeks and have ailments such as fever, body aches or headaches? Contact your GP by phone to discuss your complaints and travel to Uganda. Your family doctor can consult the GGD (Municipal Health Service).

See here for more information