Ebola is one of the killer diseases that have always attacked Democratic Republic of Congo which later spans its wings to through Eastern Congo to Uganda via Bundibugyo district, it spreads to South Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. However, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is carrying out intense response to protect the affected regions. Ebola spreads so fast with reported deaths in Democratic Republic of Congo to be over 100, Uganda has reported about 20 cases with no deaths confirmed according to the Ministry of Health.
Even though the outbreak is being managed by the hardworking governments, International Rescue Committee has advised that the Ebola spread might be more than what is being reported by the regional governments.
What is Ebola?
This is a virus when a human gets it, it causes fever, headache, general body pain, muscle pain, sores on the throat, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes bleeding. The virus is hard to detect and it can take up to 21 Days to develop such symptoms.
As the Ebola pandemic keeps circulating at a high speed around different parts of East Africa, several European embassies have warned their citizens against non-essential travel to Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and South Sudan. For example USA, Canada and other countries have encouraged their citizens who have been to Uganda, D.R. Congo and South Sudan to go under screening and quarantine. On the other hand, Uganda has suspended all its flights to Kinshasa and likewise with D.R Congo.
The Bundibugyo Ebola pandemic has been declared as the public health concerns by World Health Organization as this raises questions to travelers heading to these countries for gorilla trekking experiences in Uganda, D.R Congo and other safari packages in the region. Although the Ebola remains a threat in these regions, it is highly concentrated in Ituri in Northern Kivu and South Kivu in Congo, on the side of Uganda, a few scattered cases have been reported in Kampala and Wakiso and the health team has traced them and made sure they are on the treatment. Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania being one of the busiest travel hubs in the region have not announced the outbreak yet, even though they are on the verge to getting the disease. Rwanda has been so stringent that, it has denied foreigners who have traveled through D.R Congo for the last 30 days from entering.
Some transport agencies have
canceled all their flights to Uganda for example KLM a Dutch airline has suspended flights to and from Uganda to observe the situation.
How does Ebola Spread?
Ebola literally spreads through contact with the bodily fluids with someone who is infected with Ebola or you can obtain it from sharp objects. Ebola is not an air born disease like flu or COVID 19 and measles. Ebola is considered less risky because people get infected after the symptoms are out and this will happen when one comes in contact with Ebola positive person.
Ebola virus can spread through contact with Ebola positive animals for example baboons, gorillas, bats, eating bush meat and this is why there are stringent restrictions for travelers in the Ebola outbreak areas.
Is it safe to travel to East Africa?
There has not been any reporting about Ebola outbreak in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Zanzibar which are the busiest touristic hubs in East Africa. There have been confirmed cases in D.R. Congo and Uganda, however there are no deaths in Uganda, however UK and US travel advisories warn their citizens not to travel to Congo and on the other hand Uganda remains under close monitoring since there have been confirmed cases even though no deaths announced. In Uganda Ebola cases have been reported around Kampala, Wakiso and if you are to track gorillas in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable national park, you have to follow the government rules or get in touch with a Ugandan tour operator to give you heads up. At the moment, D.R Congo remains very risky for travelers.
Is Uganda open to travel to now?
The situation of Ebola virus is that Uganda is at level 2 according to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meaning there has not been any medication for the disease yet, therefore, you have to be very careful when you are traveling to Uganda especially for gorilla trekking experiences. Travel advisories from UK and USA, continue to advise travelers from all sorts of life to continue taking precautions and on arrival they will go through screening to record their temperatures. It should be noted that Uganda suspended all the flights to and from Congo in Kinshasa and it should be highly noted that, travelers should not be in direct contact with the infected people, and in case of any symptoms visit the nearest health center. Therefore, Uganda remains open for tourism and Uganda has always been known for its effective fight against pandemics for example HIV/AIDS, COVID 19, EBOLA among other pandemics.
