Uganda's confirmed Ebola cases have risen to nine after two new infections were detected in the capital Kampala, the Ministry of Health said on Friday.
In a statement, the ministry said the two newly confirmed cases are Congolese nationals, bringing the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the East African country to nine, including one death.
Health teams are now closely monitoring everyone believed to have come into contact with patients, while surveillance has been intensified in Kampala and at key border crossings.
Authorities are trying to stay ahead of the outbreak as neighboring DR Congo continues to report rising infections.
Uganda has closed its official border with the DRC, but risks remain that infections could spread through other porous border points.
Regional agencies are warning that limited funding and the constant movement of people are making the outbreak harder to contain.
There is also concern over the strain involved. Unlike some previous Ebola outbreaks, the Bundibugyo type of the virus currently has no widely-approved vaccine, making early detection and quick isolation especially important.
For now, Ugandan authorities say contact tracing is ongoing, public alerts remain in place, and they are calling on people to report symptoms early and seek medical help quickly.
Uganda declared its latest Ebola outbreak on May 15 after confirming an imported case involving a Congolese national who had traveled from eastern DRC, the epicenter of the current regional outbreak, to seek treatment in Uganda.
Uganda's confirmed Ebola cases rise to 9: health ministry
Uganda's confirmed Ebola cases rise to 9: health ministry
