The Ministry of Health has announced an increase in the number of patients recovering from Ebola, with the number of survivors rising from two to four since Tuesday.
Speaking during a meeting organised by the World Health Organization, Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine said the improved recovery rate reflects the effectiveness of Uganda’s Ebola preparedness and response systems.
Atwine attributed the positive outcomes to the establishment of specialised Ebola treatment units and the deployment of highly trained healthcare workers with expertise in managing Ebola cases.
She, however, emphasised that these interventions were not introduced in response to the current outbreak but have been part of Uganda’s disease preparedness strategy for years.
According to the Ministry, the existing infrastructure and trained personnel have enabled patients to access specialised care quickly, improving treatment outcomes while helping to contain the spread of the disease.
The Ministry also clarified that the number of confirmed Ebola cases remains unchanged at 15.
Of these, 11 are foreign nationals, while four are healthcare workers from health facilities in Uganda.
Atwine expressed concern over countries that have imposed travel restrictions on Ugandans following the outbreak, arguing that such measures are not justified by the available evidence.
She noted that no Ugandan has been identified as an Ebola case outside the country and questioned the rationale behind blanket restrictions.
The Permanent Secretary further explained that it would be extremely difficult for an Ebola patient to travel through Entebbe International Airport because all departing passengers undergo health screening before being cleared to travel.
“Travellers are screened and only allowed to proceed after medical teams confirm they do not pose a public health risk,” she said.
The World Health Organization has similarly maintained that travel bans and entry restrictions are not the most effective response to Ebola outbreaks.
Instead, the global health body recommends strengthening surveillance, screening and public health response systems to ensure travellers are properly assessed and suspected cases detected early.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as efforts intensify to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission.